Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-24
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 plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone a considerable development, particularly to attract and accommodate tourists. The most noticeable changes are replacement of castle(disused) into a hotel, addition of showers & toilets beside the car park, and conversion of public beach into a private one.
On the western side of the harbour, marina and fishing boat area have remained, although additional facilities have been introduced. Showers and toilets have been provided near the main road, and the existing car parks have been retained. Further north, the dock and passenger-ferry facilities have been developed with additional berthing space provided for boats.
For the southern and eastern parts have also changed significantly. The lifeboat station remains in its original position, but cafés and shops have been added immediately to its west. In the southeast, the former diused castle has been replaced by a hotel. In addition, the public beach that existed in 2000 hasbeen converted into a private beach intended for the hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively covers the requirements of the task by identifying the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the present day. You have successfully highlighted key changes such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel, the addition of tourist facilities, and the privatization of the beach. The overview provides a clear summary of the overall trend of development. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for instance, you mention the marina and fishing area remained, but could have explicitly contrasted this with the new additions to provide a more comprehensive comparison of the two time periods.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary paragraph, and two body paragraphs focusing on different geographical areas of the harbour. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'On the western side', 'Further north', and 'In the southeast' to guide the reader through the map. However, there is a minor error in the final paragraph: 'For the southern and eastern parts have also changed significantly' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Improving the transition between these sentences would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'undergone a considerable development', 'accommodate', 'retained', and 'converted'. There are a few minor errors, such as 'diused' (spelling) and 'replacement of castle' (missing article). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise collocations or varied synonyms for 'change' (e.g., 'transformed', 'modernized', 'redeveloped') would elevate the lexical score. The current range is functional and allows for clear communication of the information presented in the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical slips, such as the missing article in 'replacement of castle' and the incorrect structure 'For the southern and eastern parts have also changed'. Additionally, 'hasbeen' is a spacing error. Despite these, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not impede communication. To improve, focus on article usage and ensuring that sentence subjects are clearly defined without unnecessary prepositions at the start of sentences. The majority of your sentences are clear and well-structured.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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