Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-28

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 illustration demonstrates the looks of the harbour from 2000 to the present time.

Overall, only a few new shops and changing areas are launched, and the existing old areas are interchanged with each other. Disused buildings are now converted for hotel purposes.

Firstly, there was a road on the west side of the port harbour which was connected with two car parks and with one shower area. Now new showers and toilets are build with them. The existing marina and fishing boats are swapped, now the marina (private yachts) occupy more space than before. On the north-east side, there was a single dock present, now a fresh narrow dock is introduced. Public ferries and public beach remain the same.

Lastly, on the south-east side, the disused castle is shifted into hotel and on its left side the public beach is converted into private beach used by hotel. Also there was a lifeboat, it remained unchanged but on the left side of it a brand new cafes and shops are inaugurated. The road leading towards hotel and lifeboat remain the same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour transformation, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the expansion of the marina. You have provided a clear overview and supported it with relevant details from the diagrams. However, the report could be improved by using more precise comparative language. For instance, instead of saying 'the existing old areas are interchanged', you could describe the specific spatial shifts more clearly. While all key changes are mentioned, the description of the 'new narrow dock' and the 'private beach' could be more integrated into a cohesive comparison of the two time periods to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs focusing on different areas of the harbour. You use some cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Now', and 'Lastly' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. Some transitions feel slightly abrupt, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated to link the changes in the harbour more fluidly. Paragraphing is used appropriately, which helps the reader follow the progression of the description.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'disused', 'inaugurated', and 'converted'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'the looks of the harbour' is not standard academic phrasing, and 'interchanged with each other' is slightly awkward in this context. You attempt to use less common vocabulary, but some choices lack the precision required for a higher band. Focusing on more natural collocations for describing maps and plans would improve your score significantly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'new showers and toilets are build' (should be 'built'), 'a brand new cafes and shops are inaugurated' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'the disused castle is shifted into hotel' (missing article). These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of consistent control over complex structures, which limits the score to the 6.0 band.

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

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