Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 map pictures a harbour in 2000 and how looks presently.

Overall, the port harbour is more developed now than what it was in 2000. Some additions were made to the port, while some areas were expanded and some places were taken out totally.

At the north of the harbour in both years the showers & toilet and car park remained at the same location next to the main road, while the marina private yachts in 2000 was changed to the fishing boat presenting and the fishing boat was converted to the marina private yachts. The dock was expended, and public beach, and passenger ferries remained at the same position.

The Cafes and shops were added to the harbour, and the lifeboat was moved close to it. The Castle was converted to a hotel and the public beach just next to the hotel converted to a private beach for the hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour and provided a clear overview of the changes. You covered the key developments, such as the addition of cafes and shops, the conversion of the castle, and the repositioning of the marina and fishing boat areas. However, the response is quite brief, and some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as 'fishing boat presenting' or 'the dock was expended' (likely meant 'expanded'). To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are clearly articulated and that the terminology used to describe the changes is accurate and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by location. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In both years' and 'while', to connect ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. The paragraphing is functional, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could be improved by using a wider range of linking words to better guide the reader through the spatial changes. Overall, the information is easy to follow, but the cohesion lacks the sophistication required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'converted', 'remained', and 'developed'. However, there are instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'fishing boat presenting' and 'the dock was expended'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your report. To improve, focus on using more accurate collocations for describing map changes, such as 'the dock was enlarged' or 'the area was repurposed'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptive terms will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The map pictures a harbour in 2000 and how looks presently.' There are several grammatical slips, including missing subjects ('how looks presently') and incorrect verb forms ('the dock was expended'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. To reach a higher band, you should aim for more error-free sentences and ensure that your verb tenses are consistent when describing past and present states. Pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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