Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22

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 two maps illustrate the changes that occurred at the Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day.

Overall, it is clear that the area was significantly developed. The most notable changes involve transforming a disused castle into a hotel and the expansion of the dock. Some areas have swapped their locations and more facilities have been built in the present.

Looking at the north side of the harbour, in 2000, there was a space to hold one ship at the dock but in the present day, it has been extended to hold two ships. Moreover, the disused castle at the southeast of the harbour has been converted into a hotel, where a private beach is now reserved for the hotel residents.

Turning to the west side of the harbour, two areas such as a marina, private yachts and fishing boats have changed their locations in the present day. More showers and toilets have been added on the western side of the Marina, private yachts and cafes and shops have been built on the west side of Lifeboat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The candidate successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear overview of the main changes and supporting them with relevant comparisons between 2000 and the present day. The response highlights key developments, such as the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel, the expansion of the dock, and the swapping of locations between the marina and fishing boats. The overview is concise and covers the most striking structural transformations. While some minor details, such as the exact positioning of the new cafés and shops, could have been elaborated further, the overall selection and reporting of main features meet the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The text is logically organised with a clear overall progression from an introductory paragraph to an overview, followed by specific body paragraphs detailing the north and west sides of the harbour. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader through the comparisons, using phrases like 'Overall, it is clear that', 'Looking at the north side', and 'Turning to the west side'. Paragraphing is well-managed and logically structured, grouping related spatial features together effectively. Referencing is generally clear, though occasional minor clunkiness in transitions prevents it from reaching a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and spatial changes, incorporating terms such as 'converted into', 'extended', 'reserved', and 'transformed'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of collocation, for instance, 'disused castle' and 'private beach'. However, there are some imprecise phrasings, such as 'a space to hold one ship at the dock', and slight awkwardness in phrasing elements like 'two areas such as a marina, private yachts and fishing boats have changed their locations'. Vocabulary is sufficient to allow flexibility and precision, placing it solidly in the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses ('where a private beach is now reserved') and passive voice constructions ('has been converted into'). Grammatical control is generally strong, with many error-free sentences. Minor inaccuracies occur, such as the dangling or slightly confused appositive in 'two areas such as a marina, private yachts and fishing boats', which slightly detracts from structural precision. Punctuation is accurate, and errors do not impede communication, supporting a Band 7.0 score.

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

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