Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The illustration demonstrates the layout of the harbour from 2000 to the present time.

Overall, only a few new shops and changing areas have been 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 a hotel and on its left side the public beach is converted into private beach used by the 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 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour plans, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the expansion of the marina. However, the overview is somewhat simplistic, and some descriptions lack precision. For instance, stating that existing areas are 'interchanged' is vague. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two time periods could be more analytical. To reach a higher band, ensure that all significant changes are highlighted with greater clarity and that the overview provides a more comprehensive summary of the overall trends rather than just listing individual changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific area of the harbour. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Now', and 'Lastly' helps guide the reader through the description. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. The referencing is generally clear, but the connection between the changes described and the overall layout could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate for the task, providing a clear structure that aids readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the visual information. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'inaugurated' and 'converted', though 'inaugurated' is slightly misused in the context of a cafe. Some phrasing is repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'there was' and 'remained the same'. To improve, focus on using more precise verbs and nouns related to urban development and spatial changes to avoid simple sentence structures and repetitive word choices.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'are interchanged with each other' (passive voice misuse) and 'are in inaugurated' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor issues with sentence construction. The majority of sentences are understandable, but the frequency of these small errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.

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

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