Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 figures illustrate the change of Porth Harbour in the year 2000 and today.

Overall, at the northern side a new dock has been created and private yachts and fishing boats zone replaced by each other. Also, southern side has some new changes compared to the year 2000.

In 2000, main road had three connected roads but at present it is only two. There was only 1 shower but now a new place for showers and toilets placed between the two car park. A major change is marina and fishing boats zone swapped their places.

Another notable change is the castle that once was disused is now converted into a hotel and adjacent public beach is owned by that hotel. Furthermore, besides of lifeboat a new cafe and shops being made which was not present in 2000. Car park of the southern beach is connected with the main road at present and public beach in the northern side remained same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour's transformation, such as the relocation of the marina and fishing zone, the conversion of the castle, and the addition of new amenities. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it lists changes rather than synthesizing the most significant trends, such as the shift toward tourism and commercialization. While the key features are identified, the description of the road network and the specific placement of the new facilities could be more precise. The report provides a clear comparison between 2000 and the present, meeting the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on different areas of the harbour. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In 2000', 'at present', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'private yachts and fishing boats zone replaced by each other'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more cohesive narrative of the changes over time.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the changes. You successfully use terms like 'disused', 'converted', and 'adjacent'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'replaced by each other' instead of 'swapped locations', and 'besides of' instead of 'in addition to'. The range is sufficient to convey the necessary information, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band score. Improving your control over collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing will help elevate your score in this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the marina', 'the castle') and prepositions ('at the northern side' should be 'on the northern side'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'new cafe and shops being made which was not present', which lacks a proper auxiliary verb structure. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice will improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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