Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-19

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 6.0)

The map below depicts the harbour in 2000 and how is it today. We will identify the key changes and main features.

Overall, The harbour had experienced significant number of devlopment till today such as cafes, hotels and showers and toilets etc.

In 2000,If we come from the north side on the main road on the first bend we had a car park, on the right side there was Marina(private yachts) along with the showers and toilet on left side. Furthermore, we have a dock and passenger ferries. Another path from main road also have car park on north side. beside the cark park there is fishing boats. On the end of 2nd path there was lifeboat, next to lifeboat there was a Castle along with public beach.

In contrast, now the fishing boats and Marina places switched with one another, the car park has now his separate path form lifeboat road. Moreover, The castle removed from its place and hotel is constructed there along with the private beach, Cafes and shops are also situated on the left side of the Lifeboat. In addition we have another place for the showers and toilet with the car park.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour in both 2000 and the present day. You have successfully identified key changes, such as the addition of hotels, cafes, and the relocation of the marina and fishing boats. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lists specific features rather than synthesising the most significant trends or transformations. To improve, ensure the overview highlights the broader shift, such as the transition from a functional industrial harbour to a more tourist-oriented facility. Some descriptions, such as 'the castle removed from its place', are slightly imprecise, as the map suggests a repurposing or replacement rather than a simple removal.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the past to the present. You use some cohesive devices like 'In contrast', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by mechanical phrasing and some awkward transitions. For instance, the sentence 'If we come from the north side on the main road...' is a bit informal and narrative-driven rather than analytical. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as 'his separate path', which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'marina', 'passenger ferries', and 'lifeboat'. However, there are several spelling errors ('devlopment', 'cark park') and some imprecise word choices, such as 'switched with one another' instead of 'relocated' or 'swapped positions'. The phrase 'significant number of devlopment' is grammatically incorrect and lacks lexical precision. To reach a higher band, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of key terms related to map descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'how is it today' (should be 'how it is today'), 'The harbour had experienced' (tense inconsistency), and 'the car park has now his separate path' (incorrect pronoun usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some unnecessary capital letters and missing commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage would be beneficial.

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

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