Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 compare the layout of Porth Harbour from 2000 to present.

Overall, the harbour underwent significant changes, with shifting from fishing area to tourist attraction. Although some new features were developed, some remained the same.

In 2000, there was a castle on the south-east side of the harbour with a public beach near to it. By now, this castle has been transformed into a hotel and the public beach has been privatized for the hotel. Although the roads did not change much, it has been extended to the hotel. The life boat closed to castle in the past remained unchanged, but cafes and shops have been developed to the west of it at present.

In 2000, one car park was connected to the main road, while the other one was not connected directly. Today, the second car park at the west-south corner was given a direct access to the main road. At present, one more dock and shower and toilet there have been constructed. Fishing boats and marina private yachts area at the north-south side have been switched to each other. Another public beach at the upper right corner stayed unchanged over the period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the harbour, including the transformation of the castle, the changes to the car parks, and the addition of new facilities. You successfully identify the main trends, such as the shift from a fishing-focused area to a more tourist-oriented one. However, the description of locations is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'north-south side'), which makes it slightly difficult for the reader to visualize the exact changes. To reach a higher band, ensure that spatial references are consistently clear and accurate. Overall, the summary is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively by highlighting the most significant developments between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary of the main changes. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'In 2000', and 'At present' helps to guide the reader through the comparison. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more precise. For instance, 'the life boat closed to castle' is grammatically awkward and impacts the flow of the sentence. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different areas of the harbour, which contributes to a clear progression of ideas throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'transformed', 'privatized', and 'developed'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'life boat closed to castle' (likely meaning 'near the castle') and 'switched to each other', which sound slightly unnatural. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Focusing on more precise collocations for describing map changes, such as 'converted into' or 'relocated', would enhance your lexical score.

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 'with shifting from fishing area' (should be 'with a shift from a fishing area') and 'the life boat... remained unchanged' (missing article 'The'). Additionally, 'near to it' is slightly redundant. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to article usage and prepositional phrases, and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with greater grammatical precision.

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

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