Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-22

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 two maps show the changes in Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day.

Overall, Porth Harbour has changed a lot. Many new facilities have been added for tourism, while some old features were removed or moved to other places.

In 2000, there was a public beach in the south, but today it has become a private beach for a new hotel. The disused castle was destroyed, and a hotel was built in that area. Also, cafes and shops were built near the lifeboat station.

On the west side, in 2000s there was a marina for private yachts, a car park, and showers with toilets. Today, the marina has moved to the south-west near the car park. Fishing boats now use the area where the marina used to be. A new car park and new showers and toilets were also added. The dock and passenger ferries remain on the east side today.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour in both 2000 and the present day. You have clearly highlighted the key changes, such as the conversion of the public beach to a private one, the replacement of the castle with a hotel, and the relocation of the marina. The overview provides a good summary of the general trend of development. To reach a higher band, ensure that you provide more precise comparisons, such as noting the specific expansion or reduction in size of certain facilities, rather than just stating they were moved or added. Overall, the response is well-focused and covers all necessary aspects of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by location (south/castle area and west/east side). This structure makes the information easy to follow. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', 'Also', and 'On the west side' to guide the reader. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between sentences is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'disused', 'facilities', 'relocated', and 'private yachts'. The language is generally accurate and appropriate for a report of this nature. However, the vocabulary is somewhat functional and lacks the sophistication or precision that would push the score into the higher bands. For instance, repeating 'built' and 'new' several times limits the lexical variety. Incorporating more specific verbs related to urban development would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar, with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are minor issues, such as 'in 2000s' (which should be 'in 2000') and the slightly repetitive use of passive voice constructions. While the grammar is generally accurate, the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied sentence patterns, such as using participle clauses or more sophisticated relative clauses to combine information more fluidly.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.