Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05
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 maps depict the information regarding the layout of harbour in 2000 and the alters that taken place at present .
to start with, in 2000, there was a main road in the Western side and a car park was situated in front of main road . shpwers and toilets were located just above the car park . there was another car park which was situated in the South West corner . the centre of harbour port was occupied by passenger ferries and dock . There was a public beach located in Southern direction. A castle was situated in South East corner . The lifeboats was located just above the beach and in the left of lifeboat there as a fishing boats and a marina was located in right of toilets .
moving further , at present main road, car parking , fishing boats and marina have been remained at same place . newly showers and toilets has been added in left of marina . cafes and shops has been constructed in between lifeboats and marina . castle has turn into hotel and public beach has been replaced as private beach .
overall, it can be seen that the layout of harbour has undergone in significent changes . the principal alters are addition of cafes and shops , hotel and private beach
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the harbour in 2000 and the present day. You have identified key changes, such as the addition of cafes and shops, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the change from a public to a private beach. However, the report lacks a clear overview that synthesises the most significant trends. While you mention some changes in the conclusion, a formal overview paragraph immediately following the introduction is standard for Task 1. Additionally, some descriptions are slightly imprecise, such as the location of the new showers and toilets, which could be described more clearly in relation to existing structures.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The response is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from the past to the present. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'to start with', 'moving further'). There are also issues with referencing; for instance, 'the harbour port' is not clearly defined, and the transition between sentences within paragraphs is sometimes abrupt. Paragraphing is present, but the flow between ideas could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is somewhat limited and repetitive. You rely on basic verbs like 'situated' and 'located' throughout the text. There are also some errors in word choice and form, such as 'alters' instead of 'alterations' or 'changes', and 'significent' (spelling error). To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise vocabulary to describe spatial relationships and changes, such as 'transformed', 'converted', 'adjacent to', or 'situated on the periphery'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('lifeboats was', 'showers and toilets has been added'), incorrect article usage ('in the Western side'), and awkward phrasing ('the alters that taken place'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and tense usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage when describing past and present states.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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