Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-25

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 maps elucidate the plan of the Porth Harbor in 2000 and in the present time.

Taking a general overview, the major changes in the plan of the harbor is the addition of extra showers and toilets and the dock in the North-West. The second most major change in the Porth Harbor is replacement of the unused castle to a hotel.

It is pellucid that the Car park and the showers and toilets in the North-West region of the harbor in 2000 stayed the same, however, there is a addition of a new showers and toilets beside the car parking. Moreover, for the same, the carparking is now being accessible from the main road in the current plan. In addition to that, the location of Marina[private yachts] and the fishing boats are switched in the current Porth Harbor's map. The current plan also illustrates the opening of a new cafes and shops just beside the road.

The current map of Porth Harbor depicts the addition of a dock just beside the old ones from 2000. The road leading to the lifeboat in the South-East now also lead to the previous castle which is now replaced with a hotel. The area beside the castle in the year 2000 used to be a public beach which is now made into a private beach for the visitors of the hotel. Moreover, the Public beach in the North-East remained the same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour's development. You have clearly highlighted the key changes, such as the addition of the dock, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the introduction of new amenities like cafes and shops. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the transformation. However, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as stating the car park 'stayed the same' while also noting it is now accessible from the main road, which is a significant change. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully accurate and that the distinction between public and private areas is consistently maintained throughout the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition to that', and 'However' to link ideas. While the progression is generally clear, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by grouping related changes more effectively. For instance, the second body paragraph mixes infrastructure changes (dock) with land-use changes (hotel/beach). Improving the thematic grouping of your points would enhance the flow and make the report easier to follow for the reader.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'elucidate', 'pellucid', and 'depicts'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'replacement of the unused castle to a hotel' should be 'replacement of the unused castle with a hotel'. Additionally, 'the carparking is now being accessible' is awkward; 'the car park is now accessible' would be more natural. While you attempt some sophisticated vocabulary, the occasional errors in phrasing prevent a higher score. Focus on using collocations correctly to improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'the major changes... is the addition' (subject-verb agreement error, should be 'are'), 'a addition of a new showers' (article and pluralization error), and 'the road... now also lead' (should be 'leads'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall accuracy. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles with countable nouns. Increasing the variety of complex structures while maintaining accuracy will help elevate your score.

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.