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 given maps illustrate a harbour and how it changed from 2000 till now.
Overall, the harbour underwent a significant changes, commercial activities are now a part of it such as new cafès and shops. The castle is replaced by a Hotel.
The old harbour was linked with the main road ( on west side) throughout a small road that lead to the life boat and disused castle on the South- East corner; there was a car parking on the left side of this secondary road and a public beach on the south near the castle. The fishing boats were behind the car parking, there were another car parking directly exit from the main road and behind that there was the bathroom on the north-west. Marina for the private boats was on the right side of toilets. There was also a dock and a public beach on the North- East.
After renovation the castle was replaced by a Hotel and the public beach nearby with private beach of hotel customers. The new cafès & shops were constructed near the lifeboat, moreover the car parking entry closed from the small road and constructed a near entry directly from the main road and another showers and toilets are constructed behind the car parking. The fishing boats and private marina switched their positions, Furthermore, a new dock is created near the existed one. The public beach on the north-east, car parking and the toilets on the north-west remained unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key features of the maps, including the transformation of the castle into a hotel and the relocation of facilities. The overview is clear and highlights the main changes effectively. However, the description of the 'before' state is slightly cluttered, and some details, such as the 'bathroom' (likely referring to toilets/facilities), are described with limited precision. To reach a higher band, ensure that the distinction between the two time periods is consistently clear and that the reporting of spatial relationships is more precise. Overall, the response successfully summarizes the main trends and specific changes.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs focusing on the 'before' and 'after' states. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'After renovation', and 'Furthermore' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing of locations (e.g., 'on the right side of toilets') can be confusing due to the lack of clear spatial anchors. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the initial state to the final state.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'commercial activities', 'renovation', and 'switched their positions' used correctly. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as using 'bathroom' instead of 'public toilets' or 'facilities', and 'existed one' instead of 'existing one'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. Spelling is generally accurate, but the student should focus on using more precise terminology for map descriptions.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'underwent a significant changes' (article error), 'that lead to' (tense inconsistency), and 'constructed a near entry' (missing subject/passive voice error). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly awkward in their construction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice for describing changes would improve the accuracy significantly.
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.