Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-06

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 diagram compares the layout of Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present-day.

Overall, the plan illustrates some major changes such as docks, showers and toilets options having increased today as compared to 2000. On the south side of the plan, cafes and shops have opened followed by the private beach and hotel.

When comparing the plan from 2000 to today such as the north side of the plan, some features such as the public beach and passenger ferries have not changed, but now it has 2 dock options. Marina private yachts have become Fishing boats.

On the south side, the Fishing boats changed into Marina and a new option of showers and toilets have been made. The small roads which follow the lifeboats, some cafe shops are now opened there as well which are not available in 2000. The public beach becomes private beach because the Castle now becomes a hotel. The main road on the west side of the plan had not changed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the harbour, identifying key changes such as the addition of docks, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the introduction of new facilities. However, the report is somewhat disorganized in its presentation of data. While it highlights the north and south sides, the description of the changes is occasionally confusing, such as the statement 'Marina private yachts have become Fishing boats,' which contradicts the visual evidence. To reach a higher band, ensure that the information is reported with greater accuracy and that the overview clearly synthesizes the most significant trends rather than just listing individual changes.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'on the south side' and 'the plan'. The progression of ideas is sometimes disjointed, particularly when moving between the north and south sections. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track which specific area of the harbour is being discussed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring a smoother flow between sentences would significantly enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to describe the changes in the harbour. There is some attempt to use specific terminology like 'docks', 'marina', and 'lifeboats'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'showers and toilets options' and 'cafe shops', which sound unnatural. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of descriptive verbs to report the changes, such as 'transformed', 'expanded', or 'converted'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'some features... have not changed, but now it has 2 dock options' (subject-verb agreement) and 'the Fishing boats changed into Marina' (missing articles). Additionally, there are issues with tense consistency, such as 'the public beach becomes private beach', which should be in the past or present perfect to reflect the change over time. These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a need for more careful proofreading of basic grammatical rules.

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