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 show the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day. There are lots of changes that have been done over the time.
In 2000, there were showers, toilets and two car parks on the western side of the harbour. A private marina was located in the northwest while fishing boats were kept in the south. There was also a lifeboat station near the road. In the north there was a dock for boats and passenger ferries, as well as a public beach.
Today, the marina has been moved to the southern area and the fishing boats are now in the northwest. Another showers and toilets block has been added. Cafes and shops have been built near the lifeboat station. Finally the disused castle has been replaced by a hotel with a private beach.
Overall, the harbour has experienced several major changes including the addition of a hotel cafes and shops. The marina and fishing boats have also been moved while the public beach has become a private beach for hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response covers all key features of the two maps, successfully identifying the major transformations such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of new amenities like cafés and shops, and the conversion of the castle into a hotel with a private beach. An overview is provided at the beginning and reinforced in the final paragraph, capturing the overall trend of commercialisation and tourism development. However, the description could be slightly more analytical when drawing comparisons between the two time periods, which places it firmly at Band 6.5 to 7.0. Given that all main features and spatial changes are clearly reported without major omissions, it fulfills the Band 7 criteria for addressing all parts of the task with a clear overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an introductory paragraph, moves through body paragraphs detailing the layout in 2000 and subsequent changes, and concludes with an effective summary overview. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate time periods and thematic changes. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', and 'Finally' are utilized to guide the reader through the temporal shifts, although some cohesive links are a bit basic. Referencing is generally clear, resulting in a coherent and easy-to-follow text that meets the requirements for a Band 7 score.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and physical changes, such as 'relocated', 'replacement', 'amenities', and directional language like 'western side' and 'southern area'. Some attempts at less common vocabulary are made, such as 'disused castle' and 'commercialisation' (implied by the addition of shops). However, there are minor lexical inaccuracies, such as 'Another showers and toilets block' instead of 'An additional block of showers and toilets'. While the range is sufficient for precision, occasional slip-ups prevent it from reaching a higher band, making Band 6.5 appropriate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing passive structures effectively ('has been moved', 'have been built', 'has been replaced'). There are frequent error-free sentences, particularly regarding tense usage for past descriptions ('were kept', 'was located') and present perfect transformations ('has experienced', 'has become'). Minor errors do occur, such as the plural agreement issue in 'Another showers and toilets block' (should be 'Another shower and toilet block' or 'An additional block of showers and toilets'), but these errors rarely impede communication and do not systematic obscure meaning, reflecting solid Band 6.5 control.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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