Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-11

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 two maps depict the development of Porth harbour in 2000 and today's appearance.

In 2000, the castle(disused) and public beach was located at the right bottom of the map. In the north, dock, public beach, and passenger ferries were situated. The marina (private yachts), fishing boats, amenities, and car parks were sited at the west of the harbour. Lifeboat was at the end of the road.

Porth harbour has considerably changed since 2000. The number of docks has increased while passenger ferries, public beach, and lifeboat remain unchanged. Both car parks are now with the showers & toilets. The fishing boats and marina (private yachts) have switched their locations. Castle has been converted into the hotel and public beach near the hotel becomes private beach for the hotel use only. Cafes and shops are also added near the lifeboat.

In short, Porth harbour has transformed from a simple beach for limited services to a wide range tourist spot that combines tourism, multifunctional spaces, and multiple activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the maps well. You successfully identified key changes, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the relocation of the marina and fishing boats. However, the description of the layout in 2000 is slightly cluttered and lacks a clear overview of the spatial relationships. While you mention the main changes, some details are presented as a list rather than a comparative analysis. To reach a higher band, ensure you group features logically (e.g., coastal changes vs. infrastructure) and provide a more cohesive summary of the overall transformation in the introduction or overview.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs: an introduction, a description of the past, a description of the present, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is generally clear. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. For instance, the transition between the 2000 description and the current state could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly ambiguous, such as 'Both car parks are now with the showers & toilets,' which could be phrased more naturally to improve the flow of information between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'depict,' 'converted,' and 'transformed' effectively. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'right bottom of the map' (better: 'bottom right corner') and 'public beach near the hotel becomes private beach' (missing articles). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire of descriptive verbs and prepositional phrases would enhance the clarity and professional tone of your report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly regarding article usage (e.g., 'Castle has been converted,' 'public beach near the hotel') and prepositional phrasing (e.g., 'sited at the west'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on the consistent use of articles and ensure that your sentence structures are varied and grammatically sound. The use of passive voice is appropriate for this task, but ensure the subjects are clearly defined.

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

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