Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-15

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 maps illustrate a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Overall, it is clear that the Port Harbour has undergone several changes, including the construction of new facilities, such as cafes & shops, and the relocation or removal of some existing structures. However, certain features such as the dock, passenger ferries, lifeboat, and road have remained unchanged.

Looking at the first map, the showers & toilets, car park, and another car park were located on the western side of the map. However, the marina (private yachts) and fishing boats were placed beside of the car park and showers & toilets. In addition, the public beach was situated on the northern side of the map. Furthermore, the dock, passenger ferries, and lifeboat were located in the centre of the map; in contrast, the castle was located in the southeast corner of the Harbour.

Turning to the second map, several noticeable changes can be observed. Firstly, the dock, passenger ferries, lifeboat, public beach, and the road have remained unchanged. On top of that, the cafes & shops have been newly built. Additionally, on the western side of the park one car park has been replaced by new showers & toilets. Notably, the fishing boats and marina ( private yachts) exchanged their position. Finally, the castle is replaced by the hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student has successfully covered all parts of the task by presenting a clear overview of the main changes and reporting the key features of Porth Harbour between 2000 and today. The response highlights significant developments, such as the construction of cafes and shops, the exchange of positions between the fishing boats and the marina, and the replacement of the castle with a hotel. Key similarities, such as the unchanged dock, passenger ferries, and lifeboat, are also noted. The data is accurately extracted from the visual source, providing a well-rounded and fully relevant summary that meets all the core requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized logically into four paragraphs, beginning with an introduction, followed by a clear overall statement, and then detailed descriptions of the 2000 map and current map respectively. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the comparison, including transition signals like "Looking at the first map," "Turning to the second map," and "Firstly." Paragraphing is appropriate and logical. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and referencing could be smoother in places, which places this response comfortably at Band 6.5 to 7.0. Overall progression is clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and spatial changes, utilizing terms such as "relocation," "unaltered," "exchanged their position," and "newly built." While much of the vocabulary is standard and functional, there are occasional awkward collocations, such as "placed beside of" instead of "located beside." Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable success (e.g., "facilities," "structures"). Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, ensuring that communication is never hindered.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The student successfully uses passive voice constructions (e.g., "were located," "have been newly built") and complex clauses. There are a few grammatical inaccuracies, such as "the castle is replaced by the hotel" (which should ideally be past tense "was replaced" to maintain consistency) and the minor prepositional slip "beside of." However, the majority of sentences are error-free, and grammatical control is sufficient to ensure that meaning is conveyed clearly and without ambiguity.

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