Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-21

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 two maps illustrate the changes that took place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present.

Overall, Porth harbour have undergone a significant transformation with enhanced facilities for passengers such as hotel, cafes and shops while the location of major roads ,life boat and public beach remains unchanged.

The number of docks is double to accomodate more passengers on the northern side of harbour while public beach remains at its place.On the western side of harbour, showers and toilets are built adjacent to car parks.The car park on the southern side is now being accessible through the main road now which was connected previously with the minor road.Fishing boat and private marinas are reversed today with marinas having larger space than in 2000.The area for fishing boats is reduced now.

The castle on the south eatern corner is replaced by a hotel with the area near private beach is being designated for future contruction of new hotel there.A new connecting road is also contrcuted for reaching hotel conveniently. Moreover, the facilities for variety of food are enhanced with the construction of cafes and shops near life boat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour's transformation. You have clearly highlighted the key changes, such as the expansion of docks, the addition of amenities like cafes and shops, and the reconfiguration of the road access. The overview provides a good summary of the overall trend. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, stating that the number of docks is 'double' is a good attempt at quantification, but ensure the data is accurately interpreted from the visual. The inclusion of future developments is a relevant observation that adds to the completeness of the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized, moving from a general overview to specific details about the northern, western, and southern sides of the harbour. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction and overview from the body details. While the progression is generally clear, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'now' is used frequently). Using a wider variety of linking words, such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', or 'in contrast', would improve the flow between sentences and help the reader navigate the comparisons more smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'transformation', 'adjacent', 'designated', and 'accommodate'. There are some minor spelling errors, such as 'accomodate' (accommodate), 'southeatern' (southeastern), and 'contrcuted' (constructed). Additionally, some word choices could be more precise; for example, instead of saying 'facilities for variety of food are enhanced', you could use 'dining amenities have been expanded'. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but more sophisticated collocations would elevate the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'Porth harbour have undergone' (should be 'has'), 'is double to accomodate' (should be 'has doubled to accommodate'), and 'is now being accessible' (should be 'is now accessible'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some missing spaces after commas. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice will help improve your accuracy.

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

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