Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-04

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 maps show the changes that have taken place at Porth Harbour from the present day to the proposed future development.

Overall, the harbour is expected to become more developed and tourist-friendly. The main changes include the addition of cafes and shops, a hotel and extra facilities, while some existing areas will be relocated.

At present, there are showers and toilets, two car parks, fishing boats and a marina for private yachts on the western side of the harbour. There is also a dock and a passenger ferry service in the northern part. A lifeboat station is located near the road, while a public beach and a disused castle are situated in the southeast.

In the proposed plan, the fishing boats will be moved closer to the northern side, and the marina for private yachts will be relocated to the central-western area. The dock will also be improved and extended, while the passenger ferry service will remain. Two sets of showers and toilets and two car parks will be provided on the western side.

The most noticeable new developments are the construction of cafes and shops near the road and a hotel near the former castle site. In addition, the public beach will become a private beach for hotel guests. The lifeboat station will remain in approximately the same location.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

You have provided a clear overview of the changes and successfully identified the main features of both maps. You effectively contrasted the present layout with the proposed developments, such as the relocation of the marina and the addition of commercial facilities. However, there is a significant factual error in your introduction: you refer to the maps as 'present day' and 'proposed future development,' whereas the prompt explicitly states the maps show the harbour in '2000' and 'today.' This misinterpretation of the timeline affects the accuracy of your response. To reach a higher band, ensure you carefully read the provided labels on the task materials.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs focusing on specific areas, and a concluding summary of the most significant changes. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the current state from the proposed changes. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In the proposed plan,' 'In addition,' and 'The most noticeable new developments' to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'relocated,' 'extended,' 'construction,' and 'facilities' appropriately. The language is generally precise and fits the context of a report on urban development. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your writing displays a good control of grammatical structures. You successfully use a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The most noticeable new developments are the construction of cafes and shops near the road and a hotel near the former castle site.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The sentences are generally error-free, which demonstrates a strong command of English grammar. To improve further, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions to describe the changes more formally.

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

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