Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 plan shows the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and drastic change the present days.

In 2000,along the main road on the east side, it was split into two distinct branches. Notably, while the first one was a car parking lot, which was in front of showers and toilets and adjacent to a marina for private yachts, the second one went to the life boat and another parking lot, which is next to fishing boats. Besides, there was the disused castle with a private beach located in the easternmost part of the harbour. Simultaneously, there was a single dock with passenger ferries in the northern part of the port, situated below a public beach extending further north.

At present, the northern area continues to function as a port, with the addition of a new dock beside the old one. However, this area serves as a docking point for passenger ferries, including access to a public beach to the north, Whereas the car park and the showers and toilets in the northwest remain unchanged. Furthermore, the marina to the right of these facilities has been repurposed for fishing boats. At the same time, the abandoned castle has been converted into a hotel. Additionally, cafes and shopes have been established to the east of this road, near the life boat station. the fishing boat area in the southwest of the bay has been transformed into a marina for private yachts.

Overall, this pier witnessed significant changes, including the renovation of several facilities and the introduction of new ones.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour and provided a clear comparison between the two time periods. You covered all key changes, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the repurposing of the marina and fishing boat areas. The overview is present and highlights the significant transformation of the site. To reach a higher band, ensure that your descriptions of locations are consistently precise; for example, describing the 'northwest' area when the map shows it as the 'north' can lead to minor inaccuracies. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organised, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each time period, and a summary. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'notably', 'furthermore', and 'at the same time' to link your ideas. However, there are some minor issues with referencing and flow, such as the abrupt start of the final sentence in the second paragraph ('the fishing boat area...'). Additionally, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Improving the variety of linking phrases and ensuring consistent paragraph structure would help the flow of information feel more natural and sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'repurposed', 'transformed', and 'renovation' appropriately. There are some spelling errors, such as 'shopes' instead of 'shops', and minor collocation issues, such as 'drastic change the present days'. While you successfully use topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more precise descriptive language to describe spatial relationships and changes, and ensure careful proofreading to avoid simple spelling mistakes that detract from the professional tone of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. There are several grammatical slips, such as 'the given plan shows... and drastic change the present days' (which is syntactically awkward) and 'the fishing boat area... has been transformed' (missing capitalization at the start of the sentence). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence construction and ensuring that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly will help improve your accuracy and overall control of grammar.

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

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