Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30
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 maps illustate the changes that took place in Porth Harbour between the year 2000 and the present.
Overall, the area underwent significant changes such as many tourist sports are constructed and expansion of dock. While some features like main road, public beach in the north remained unchanged, several new facilities including cafes, shops and hotel were added and some existing features such as fishing boats were replaced.
In 2000, Porth Harbour consisted of car parking, Castle and dock. The car parking was located in the west of the harbour connecting to the main road, while castle was situated in south besides a public beach. In addition, dock was located in the north.
Currently, the area has changed considerably. Castle was replaced by the hotel, while public beach is converted into a private beach under the management of hotel. Furthermore, cafes and shops are constructed in the middle of the harbour. However, lifeboat remained in the same location.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features and making clear comparisons between Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing major developments such as tourist infrastructure additions and dock expansion. Key changes are noted, including the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the conversion of the public beach into a private hotel beach, alongside the swapping of locations for fishing boats and the marina. However, some minor details are missed or generalised, and the writing is slightly brief, covering the core elements adequately without fully extending every observation. Overall, the response meets the requirements for a Band 6.5 to 7.0, earning a solid 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response is organized into four logical paragraphs: an introduction, an overview, a description of the past layout, and a description of the current layout. Progression is generally clear from past to present, and cohesive devices such as 'while', 'in addition', and 'furthermore' are employed. However, paragraphing could be tighter, and some referencing is a bit mechanical. For instance, the transition between paragraphs could flow more naturally to demonstrate higher-level organizational skills. Overall, the arrangement is coherent and easy to follow, justifying a Band 6.5.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with appropriate lexical items related to maps and changes, such as 'illustrate', 'underwent significant changes', 'constructed', and 'replaced'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary like 'considerably' and 'management', though there are occasional word choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'tourist sports are constructed' instead of 'tourist facilities are built'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, allowing the message to be communicated clearly without confusion. This aligns well with the descriptors for Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as introductory subordinate clauses ('While some features like main road... remained unchanged...'). Grammatical control is reasonably good, with frequent error-free sentences. However, there are minor errors, including missing articles ('Castle was replaced by the hotel' instead of 'The castle was replaced by a hotel') and minor preposition slips ('in the west' vs 'on the west'). These errors do not impede communication, supporting a Band 6.5 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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