Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 two plan illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day. Thay show changes in facilities, beaches, parking areas, and diffrent types of boats.

Overall, the harbour has been devloped significantly. Various new facilities have been added, including cafes and shops, extra showers and toilets and a hotel. The private marina and fishing boats have changed their locations.

In 2000, there was a private marina on the weste side of the harbour, with a car park and showers and toilets nearby. In the middle of the harbour, there was a dock for boats and a separate area for passenger ferries. There were two public beaches, one in the north-east and another near the castle, which was disused at that time.

Today, several important changes can be seen. The fishing boats have been moved to the northern part of the harbour, while the private marina is now located in the south-west. Extra car park, showers and toilets have been added. The old disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, and the nearby beach is now a private beach for hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour in both 2000 and the present day. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted key changes, such as the relocation of the marina and the addition of new facilities like the hotel and shops. The comparison between the two time periods is well-structured and covers all significant developments. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details are precise; for instance, you mention 'extra car park' and 'showers and toilets' without specifying their locations or relative changes as clearly as you did for the marina. Overall, the task is addressed effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the changes. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving from the past state to the current state. You use cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', and 'while' to connect your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different time periods. The flow is generally smooth, though some transitions could be slightly more varied to enhance the overall cohesion of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'marina', 'passenger ferries', and 'disused'. However, there are several spelling errors throughout the text, such as 'plan' (plans), 'Thay' (They), 'diffrent' (different), and 'devloped' (developed). These errors are noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for common spelling mistakes and try to incorporate more precise collocations, such as 'undergone significant development' instead of 'been devloped significantly'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'The two plan illustrate' (should be 'plans illustrate') and 'private beach for hotel' (missing an article: 'the hotel'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and agreement issues. Despite these errors, the grammatical control is generally good, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader. To aim for a higher band, focus on subject-verb agreement and the consistent use of articles.

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

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