Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31
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 drawing illustrates the transformation of Porth harbour from 2000 to the current state.
Overall, There have been general changes in the Porth habour to accommodates more features, like the doct area to the creations of car park. Others, include places that has been converted into different use, in contrast to what is was in the early years.
Currently, Porth harbour had been seen with a single additional dock yard in the North East region, increasing the dock yard to three, as to compare to the two in the year 2000.
We have also seen a tremendous change in Porth harbour from the year 2000 till now, which features addition of showers and toilets near the car park area at South and relocation of marina (private yachts) from the North East to South East, displacing fishing boats to the opposite arrangement.
Furthermore, the top new substantial addition were the cafes and shops at South East region, close to the newly added hotel changing the old castle (disused) from it early use in the year 2000. This inclusions in Porth harbour's designs made it more updated and comfortable for visitors and center for tourists attraction.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the harbour transformation, such as the addition of the third dock, the relocation of the marina, and the new amenities. However, the description is occasionally imprecise. For instance, stating the hotel 'changed the old castle' is slightly confusing, as the plan shows the castle was replaced or converted. While the main trends are identified, the overview is somewhat disjointed and lacks a clear, concise summary of the most significant changes. To improve, ensure that the overview paragraph synthesizes the most striking developments rather than listing specific details.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the information. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or awkward, such as 'Others, include places that has been converted' and 'We have also seen'. The progression of ideas is occasionally interrupted by grammatical errors that make the flow feel disjointed. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider range of linking words more naturally and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus that connects logically to the next.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'transformation', 'relocation', and 'amenities' (implied by context) being used. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'doct area', 'Porth harbour had been seen with', and 'displacing fishing boats to the opposite arrangement'. These errors occasionally make the text feel unnatural. Increasing the use of more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to map descriptions—such as 'situated', 'replaced by', or 'extended'—would improve the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('places that has been converted', 'This inclusions... made it'), incorrect verb tenses ('Porth harbour had been seen'), and punctuation errors. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic agreement and tense consistency would significantly enhance the clarity and professionalism of the writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.