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 maps below compare the layout of a harbour before and after its redevelopment.

Overall, it is evident that the harbor underwent significant changes with several new facilities being added. The noticeable features include hotel, cafe and shops, and lifeboat.

In 2000, there was public beach on the northern side while passenger ferries in center. The western side of the harbour was occupied by some facilities including showers and toilets along with two car parking areas. Furthermore, the main road was linked to lifeboat. There was castile on the bottom-right corner along with another public beach.

After redesign, most of features remained unchanged such as public beach on the top corner. The second public beach on the bottom side is replaced by private beach. The castile is now transformed into hotel. Now there are more showers and toilets whereas car parking remained same. However, the fishing boats and marina relocated to each other' s places. The cafes and shops are now added next to lifeboat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour redevelopment, identifying key changes such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the addition of new facilities. However, the report is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the main features are highlighted, the description of the layout is occasionally imprecise (e.g., 'bottom-right corner' or 'top corner'), which makes it difficult for the reader to visualize the changes. To reach a higher band, you should focus on grouping information more logically—perhaps by area or by the nature of the changes—rather than listing features in a sequence that feels slightly disjointed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'After redesign'. However, the flow is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and missing articles, which makes the progression feel a bit mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the 2000 layout and the current layout is functional but lacks sophistication. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as when you mention 'the second public beach' without clearly establishing the spatial context for the reader. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring consistent paragraph structure will enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to describe the changes effectively. You use relevant terms like 'redevelopment', 'relocated', and 'transformed'. However, there are several instances of missing articles (e.g., 'there was public beach', 'in center', 'there was castile') and some imprecise word choices, such as 'After redesign' instead of 'Following the redevelopment'. The range is sufficient to convey the main points, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band. Focusing on correct article usage and more varied collocations will help improve your score in this area.

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 grammatical errors, particularly regarding articles ('the' is often omitted) and prepositions. For example, 'fishing boats and marina relocated to each other' s places' is grammatically awkward. There are also minor errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, especially with articles and pluralization.

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

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