Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The provided maps illustrate the development that took place in Harbour between 2000 and how it looks today.

Overall, it is evident that the area underwent significant transformation, the northern hemisphere experienced massive changes across period, while southern region remained the same.

To begin with, in 2000, Turning to the western side of the harbour along the main road, the most notable change is the relocation at the docking areas. In 2000, the marina for private yachts was situated just north of the fishing boats. Today, these two facilities have swapped positions. Furthermore, the newly relocated marina in the south-west has been upgraded with the construction of an additional car park and a second block of showers and toilets situated directly adjacent to it.

Moving to the southern region of the harbour, the landscape has been entirely redeveloped for commercial tourism. The disused castle and the adjacent public beach that were present in 2000 have been demolished and replaced by a large hotel featuring its own private beach. Furthermore, while the lifeboat station remains in its original position at the end of the road, new cafés and shops have been constructed immediately to its west, bridging the gap between the lifeboat and the relocated marina.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers the main features of the maps. You have successfully identified the key changes, such as the relocation of the marina and the redevelopment of the southern area. The overview is clear, although the reference to the 'northern hemisphere' is geographically inaccurate in the context of a harbour map, which is a minor lapse in precision. You have made relevant comparisons between the two time periods, such as noting the demolition of the castle and the addition of new facilities. The information is well-selected and supports the task requirements effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from an overview to specific details. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the western and southern developments. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Moving to' are used appropriately to guide the reader. However, there are some minor issues with sentence flow, such as the awkward phrasing in the introduction: 'development that took place in Harbour between 2000 and how it looks today'. Despite this, the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps, such as 'relocation', 'redeveloped', 'demolished', and 'adjacent'. The use of terminology is generally accurate and precise. There are no significant errors in word choice that impede communication. While the vocabulary is sufficient for the task, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or varied descriptive language to reach a higher band. Overall, the lexical control is solid and appropriate for this type of academic writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound. However, there are some minor errors, such as the phrase 'across period' (missing an article) and the slightly confusing opening sentence structure. Punctuation is generally handled well, and the errors present do not interfere with the clarity of the report. To improve, ensure that articles and prepositions are used consistently and aim for a slightly higher frequency of error-free complex structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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