Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-13

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 provided map illustrates the layout of the harbour in 2000 and its current appearance.

Overall, it can be seen that in 2000, the castle was disused and there was only one dock in the north. In the present day plan, a hotel, a second dock and passenger toilets have been added.

In 2000, there was a Marina in the west for passengers where passengers could park their private yachts and one toilet. Also the fishing boat was considerably large. Moreover there was a public beach where passengers could relax and two car parks connected to the main road whereas the castle was disused.

Looking at the present-day plan, there are two car parks that directly link to the main road and two toilets. The marina area has been expanded. Also cafes and shops have been added. However, the old castle was transformed into hotel which is directly connected to the road and has a private beach, allowing visitors to enjoy the beach. A second dock was added to the eastern side of the harbour.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses the prompt by summarising the main features of the harbour in 2000 and comparing them with its current layout. You have correctly identified key changes, such as the transformation of the disused castle into a hotel, the addition of a second dock, and the expansion of the marina and amenities like cafes and shops. Your overview captures the general trajectory of development well. While some minor details could have been elaborated further, all major components required for a Task 1 response are present and clearly reported, fulfilling the requirements for Band 7.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression from the past layout to the present-day layout. Paragraphing is utilised adequately to separate the introduction, an overall summary, the past details, and the current changes. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Looking at the present-day plan', and 'However' are employed to guide the reader through the comparisons. Although cohesion is sometimes slightly mechanical, the logical organisation is clear throughout, making the response easy to follow and satisfying the criteria for Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task, including terms like 'disused', 'layout', 'considerably large', and 'transformed'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary and phraseology with reasonable accuracy, such as 'directly linked to the main road'. Although vocabulary use is generally adequate to convey your points clearly and allows for some flexibility, occasional phrasing is slightly repetitive, placing this response solidly in the Band 6 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and introductory prepositional phrases ('In the present day plan, a hotel... have been added'). You demonstrate good control over basic grammar, and punctuation is generally sound. While there are a few minor slips—such as subject-verb agreement with 'a hotel ... have been added'—these errors do not impede communication. The control of grammar and variety of structures are consistent with a Band 6 performance.

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

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