Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
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 boats were considerably larger. 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. Additionally, cafes and shops have been added. However, the old castle was transformed into a 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
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task by summarising the main features of the harbour in 2000 and comparing them with its current layout. The student successfully highlights key developments, such as the transformation of the disused castle into a hotel, the addition of a second dock, and the expansion of the marina and parking facilities. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, which outlines the major changes clearly. While some details could be slightly more fully extended to reach the highest bands, the selection and reporting of main features are accurate and relevant, meeting the requirements of a Band 7.0 performance.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The report demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped reasonably well, starting with a general overview, followed by details of the past layout, and concluding with present-day changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 2000', 'Looking at the present-day plan', and 'Additionally' are used to guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, past features, and current features. Referencing is generally clear, though paragraph 3 is somewhat dense with multiple distinct features listed together. Overall, cohesion is managed effectively, supporting a score of 7.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to map descriptions, such as 'layout', 'disused', 'marina', 'expanded', and 'transformed'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary like 'considerably larger' and 'private beach'. Word choices are generally appropriate and communication is not impeded. However, vocabulary is somewhat repetitive in places, particularly with phrasing like 'added' and 'car parks connected to the main road'. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout, placing the Lexical Resource firmly at Band 6.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including relative clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'where passengers could park their private yachts' and 'whereas the castle was disused'). Grammatical control is generally sound, and the majority of sentences are clear and error-free. Punctuation is also handled well. While there are a few minor awkward structures, such as 'a hotel which is directly connected to the road and has a private beach, allowing visitors to enjoy the beach', these errors do not impede communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 7.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.