Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-20

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 layout displays Porth Harbour in 2000 and with the changes made recently.

Overall, the location has undergone significant redevelopment. It has been transformed from a traditional harbour to an attractive tourist spot with various recreational facilities.

In 2000, Porth Harbour had an entrance to a public beach on the North Eastern side, followed by an area for passenger ferries and a dock towards the left. Towards West, the main road connected to a car parking area, with the showers and toilets facilities just above it and a portion dedicated to private yachts beside them. On South West, the main road again connected with a car parking area with fishing boats right next to it. The Southern road led to a lifeboat facility near the ocean. Towards South East, there was an abandoned castle with another public beach next to it.

Since then, the harbour has witnessed extensive renovation. The single dock has been introduced with another dock right next to it, and cafes and shops facilities have been added right next to the lifeboat section of the harbour. The fishing boats and private yachts areas have been interchanged, providing more room for the yachts. The barren castle has been transformed into a hotel which is connected with the road, along with a dedicated private beach, which used to be a public beach earlier.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate successfully covers all key features of the two plans, highlighting the major transformations such as the swapping of the fishing boats and marina, the addition of cafes and shops, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel and private beach. A clear overall trend is presented in the second paragraph, which acts as a good overview. All parts of the prompt are addressed, and comparisons are made effectively between the 2000 layout and the current plan. The response is fully accurate regarding the visual data provided, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organised, moving from an introductory overview to specific details of the 2000 layout, and finally detailing the modern changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different temporal periods and aspects of the maps. Cohesive devices are generally handled well, such as 'In 2000', 'Since then', and 'Furthermore', although referencing could occasionally be smoother. Progression is clear throughout, allowing the reader to follow the spatial descriptions easily, which aligns well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The candidate demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suited to describing maps and urban changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'transformed', 'extensive renovation', and 'interchanged'. There are a few slightly unnatural word choices or minor inaccuracies, such as 'barren castle' instead of 'disused castle', and 'showers and toilets facilities' rather than 'shower and toilet facilities'. However, the vocabulary is flexible enough to convey precise geographical and functional changes without hindering communication, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating passive voice where appropriate for describing map changes, such as 'The single dock has been introduced' and 'the harbour has witnessed extensive renovation'. While there are a few minor grammatical slip-ups or slightly awkward prepositions (e.g., 'towards West' instead of 'to the west', and 'The single dock has been introduced with another dock right next to it'), these errors do not impede communication and are typical of a Band 6.5 performance.

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

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