Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

The maps illustrate the layout of Porth Harbour in 2000 and its current layout.

Overall, it is evident that the Porth Harbour has been revolutionized now. More facilities have been introduced in Porth harbour including cafes, shops, a private beach and a hotel. Additionally, in 2000 there were only 2 passenger ferries and 1 dock. Now 1 more passenger ferry and 1 more dock have been introduced.

In 2000, there was a main road at the west border of the Porth Harbour which was connected to the car park at the north and at the south the road was extended from west southern to southeastern. At the end of that road there was a lifeboat station. At the northwestern corner there were showers and toilets, beneath of that there was the marina. South to marina there was a area for fishing boats. There was a castle at the southeastern corner of the Harbour, west of it was a public beach. Opposite to it there was a space for dock which was surrounded by passenger ferries from both sides. Moreover east of dock there was another public beach.

Today, the Porth Harbour has been well developed. The main road, car parkings, lifeboat station are located at the same place, while fishing boat and maria have been shuffled. In past there were showers and toilets at only one place, but now these have also been introduced at another place. Now north to both car parks there are showers and toilets. The cafes and shops have been established west of the lifeboat station. Moreover, castle has been replaced by a hotel, west of which a public beach has been replaced by a private beach. As the dock, passenger ferries and a public beach are at the similar location. However, additional dock and passenger ferry have been introduced there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers all parts of the task by identifying the main features and comparing the two time periods. You successfully highlight the key developments, such as the addition of the hotel, cafes, and the expansion of the dock facilities. However, the description of the layout in the second paragraph is somewhat cluttered and lacks a clear, analytical focus. While you mention the 'shuffling' of the marina and fishing boats, the report would benefit from a more structured approach, perhaps grouping changes by area (e.g., northern vs. southern developments) to improve clarity. Overall, the main trends are clearly identified, but the level of detail is slightly uneven in its presentation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'However', to link ideas. However, the flow within the second paragraph is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. For example, the frequent use of 'at the' to describe locations makes the text feel a bit list-like rather than a cohesive analysis. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion could be improved by using a wider variety of linking phrases to better connect the spatial changes to the overall development of the harbour.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'revolutionized', 'established', and 'introduced' effectively. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'car parkings' (which should be 'car parks') and 'beneath of that' (which is grammatically awkward). You also rely on some repetitive phrasing, such as 'at the' and 'there was/were'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise geographical and descriptive vocabulary, such as 'situated', 'adjacent to', or 'undergone significant transformation', rather than relying on basic directional language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation. Examples include 'west southern to southeastern' (which is unclear), 'South to marina' (missing an article), and 'As the dock... are at the similar location' (incorrect use of 'as'). Additionally, there are issues with preposition usage and article omission. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur with enough frequency to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions for spatial description would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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