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 given map presents the changes made at a harbour after 2000 and how different it is today.

Overall, many noticeable ammendments have been made by adding, replacing or swapping the amenities at the location.

The plan of the place shows that another dock has been constructed at the south-west side of the first dock. Other than that, both car parks near the main road at the west side of the harbour have showers and toilets. In 2000, only one car park had 'Showers & toilets' building.

Today, fishing boats area and Marina (where private yachts used to dock) have been swapped with each other.

In addition to that, Cafes & shops area has been introduced between Marina and Lifeboat areas. The abandoned castle at the south-east side has been converted to a hotel and that hotel owns the beach near it, that used to be a public beach in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour plans well. You successfully identified key changes, such as the new dock, the relocation of the marina and fishing area, and the conversion of the castle. However, the report lacks a clear overview of the most significant trends, such as the overall expansion of facilities. While you mention 'noticeable ammendments', a more detailed summary of the transformation (e.g., the shift from a public to a more commercial/private focus) would have strengthened the response. The information is accurate, but some descriptions, like the car park details, could be more concisely integrated to improve the flow of the report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices like 'In addition to that' and 'Other than that' to link ideas. However, the transition between the car park description and the marina swap feels slightly abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different areas of the harbour. To reach a higher band, try to use a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensure that the progression of information feels more natural rather than just listing changes point-by-point.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'amenities', 'converted', and 'abandoned'. There is a spelling error ('ammendments' should be 'amendments') and some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'The plan of the place shows'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations related to map descriptions, such as 'situated in the south-west' or 'undergone significant redevelopment'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and flexibility required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the relative clause in 'Marina (where private yachts used to dock)'. There are some minor grammatical issues, such as 'the south-west side of the first dock' (should be 'to the south-west of the original dock') and 'that hotel owns the beach' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, and these errors do not impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more varied sentence structures and ensure articles (the/a) are used consistently.

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

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