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 is clear and highlights the main trends effectively. However, the report could be improved by using more precise comparative language. For instance, describing the changes as 'swapped' or 'interchanged' is slightly vague. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial references are clear and that the distinction between the 2000 layout and the current layout is consistently maintained throughout the description.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific area of the harbour. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Lastly', and 'on the north-east side' helps guide the reader through the information. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'with them' in the second paragraph is slightly ambiguous in its reference. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a task of this nature.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing for a clear description of the changes. You have used some topic-specific terms like 'marina', 'disused', and 'inaugurated'. However, there are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'fresh narrow dock' and 'port harbour'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to urban development and map descriptions. While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'only a few new shops and changing areas are launched' (should be 'have been launched') and 'the existing old areas are interchanged' (should be 'have been replaced'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and article errors throughout. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring consistent tense usage would improve the accuracy.

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

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