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 given figure illustrates how a harbour, named as Porth Harbour, used to look back in year 2000 and on the other hand its present condition.

Overall, the harbour went through many changes in this period of time. Many advancements have been made in the structure and facilities of the harbour. The most highlighting difference is the development of hotel for people who aim to visit it, while contrarily the passenger ferries remained the same.

Firstly, the dock area has been increased now reflecting more space for boats. Secondly, the locations of marine area for private yachts and fishing boats have been inter-changed.

Following to this, a second area has been created for showers and toilets near the new marina.

If we compare both pictures of Porth Harbour, we can see that the most significant change is the replacement of castle with a hotel, along with a private beach for the residents of hotel. Alongside the lifeboat and the road, there are newly opened cafes and shops as well.

So the comparison between both shows how Porth Harbour has been developed significantly and added more amenities for visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour's transformation well. You successfully identified key changes such as the hotel development, the expansion of the dock, and the relocation of the marina. However, the overview is slightly generic; it would be stronger if you explicitly mentioned the most significant structural shifts in the introductory summary. While you mention that the passenger ferries remained the same, you could have provided more specific comparisons regarding the overall layout or the addition of the new road network to fully satisfy the requirement for reporting main features and making relevant comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Following to this' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. For instance, 'Following to this' is not a standard collocation. The paragraphing is appropriate, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the general overview to specific details. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'both pictures') is consistently precise.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'amenities', 'significant', and 'development'. There are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'most highlighting difference' (should be 'most notable' or 'most significant') and 'marine area' (which is slightly vague). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Incorporating more topic-specific collocations related to urban planning or harbour infrastructure would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is generally effective. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'named as Porth Harbour' (should be 'named Porth Harbour') and 'replacement of castle' (missing an article: 'the castle'). Additionally, 'the locations of marine area... have been inter-changed' is slightly awkward. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on article usage and prepositional accuracy will help improve your control over complex structures.

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

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