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 layout 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 built 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 converted 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 cafe and shops are inaugurated. The road leading towards the hotel and lifeboat remain the same.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the harbour plans, including the conversion of the castle, the expansion of the marina, and the addition of new facilities. The overview provides a clear summary of the main changes. However, the report could be improved by using more precise comparative language. For example, stating that areas are 'interchanged' is vague; describing the specific relocation of the marina and fishing boats would be more accurate. The description of the 'fresh narrow dock' is a good observation, but the report would benefit from a more structured approach to grouping the changes (e.g., infrastructure vs. commercial developments) to better highlight the transformation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Now', and 'Lastly' helps guide the reader through the changes. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'with them' in the second paragraph, which lacks a clear antecedent. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different areas of the harbour, which contributes to the overall clarity of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'disused', 'inaugurated', and 'converted' used effectively. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'fresh narrow dock' (where 'new' or 'additional' would be more standard) and 'interchanged with each other', which does not accurately describe the spatial changes. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score. Spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'only a few new shops and changing areas are launched' (should be 'have been launched' or 'were launched') and 'the existing old areas are interchanged' (passive voice usage is slightly awkward here). The use of articles and prepositions is generally correct, but there are minor errors in tense consistency when describing the changes from 2000 to the present. These errors do not impede communication.

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

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