Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-29

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 two maps illustrate that the physical changes took place in Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day.

Overall, it is clearly seen that the Harbour undergone significant modernization,shifting from a functional maritime zone to a recreational destination.

It can be clearly seen that in 2000, the harbour mainly served practical fuctions featuring fishing boats, passenger ferries, a lifeboat station and a marina private yachts. Personal facilities were minimal with only two car parks and single block of shower and toilets. The castle and public beach provided limited road access and fewer leisure options.

Today, the harbour has been renovated to attract more vistors. The castle replaced by a hotel, and an additional road has been constructed to reach the hotel. Additionally, a private beach added nearby. Cafes and shops are built near the marina, creating a commercial ambiance for the tourists. Newly added showers and toilets have improved convenience for the visitors, while car parking facility remained same with an additional approach road has been constructed to reach one of the car park, which is missing earlier. Both fishing boat bay and marina interchanged during his period.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the maps, presenting a clear overview of the modernization from 2000 to the present day. Major spatial changes are reported, such as the interchange of the fishing boats and marina, the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, and the addition of cafes, shops, and a private beach. While a few minor details could be expanded, the main trends and comparisons are accurately identified and well-supported, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The writing demonstrates a clear overall progression from an introductory paragraph to an overview, followed by body paragraphs detailing the past and present states. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the comparisons (e.g., 'Overall', 'It can be clearly seen that', 'Today'). However, some transitions are slightly repetitive or mechanical in structure. Referencing is generally clear, resulting in a solid logical flow that aligns with the Band 6.5 or 7.0 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating terms like 'modernization', 'recreational destination', 'maritime zone', and 'commercial ambiance'. There are some minor lexical and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'fuctions' instead of 'functions', 'vistors' instead of 'visitors', and 'interchanged during his period' instead of 'this period'. Despite these occasional slips, the vocabulary allows the message to be communicated clearly, fitting the Band 6.0 profile.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is attempted throughout the response. While many sentences are grammatically sound, there are several noticeable errors in structure and punctuation, such as 'the Harbour undergone significant modernization' (missing auxiliary verb) and 'The castle replaced by a hotel' (passive voice error). Other minor issues include missing articles and prepositions. These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching a higher band.

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

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