Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The diagrams describes the key differences in the map and overall structure of Porth Harbour in the year 2000 and today.

Overall, the layout of the harbour remained the same over time but we can see some typical changes and additional facilities added in the harbour such as cafes and shops.

Starting from the main road, if we move along the first road towards the East, the used to be a car park and an area for toilets and showers which have not changed, but the marina for private yachts has been converted into a space for fishing boats. The public beach and docks for passenger ferries had no change.

There is also an additional road built from the main road in the latest map, which is linked to the second car park and another shower & toilet space is built near it in the updated plan. The space next to this car park was being used for fishing boats in 2000 but today it is reserved for private yachts. Cafes and shops are also built next to it which were not present in the older map.

The last road which was used to reach he lifeboats now also links you with a hotel in the south-east corner which was once a disused castle and the beach next to it was public beach but now it is private and accessible by the hotel individuals only.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour's transformation. You have covered the key changes, such as the conversion of the marina, the addition of new infrastructure like roads and amenities, and the repurposing of the castle. The overview provides a clear summary of the general trend. However, to reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, describing the beach as 'private' is accurate, but you could further highlight the contrast between the 2000 and current layout more explicitly. The information is well-selected and relevant to the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a spatial progression. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Starting from', 'There is also', and 'The last road' helps guide the reader through the map. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different areas of the harbour. While the flow is generally good, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'amenities', 'repurposed', and 'infrastructure' would have been better than repeating 'built' or 'space'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the map and overall structure' (referring to the diagrams) and 'hotel individuals' (which is slightly unnatural). However, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly throughout the report. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations related to urban planning or map descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'The diagrams describes' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'if we move along the first road... the used to be a car park' (missing subject). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear, and the punctuation is generally handled well. The range of structures is sufficient to describe the changes, but more consistent control over complex sentence construction would elevate the score. Most sentences are understandable, and errors do not impede communication.

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

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