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 map illustrates changes that took place at Porth harbour between 2000 and at present.

Overall, the area underwent significant changes including a private beaches, hotels, cafes & shops. While some features remained unchanged like roads, lifeboats and public beaches in the north. Several new facilities were added for example cafes and shops, hotel and some existing features including fishing boats, a marina were replaced.

In 2000, Porth harbour consisted of a dock, public beaches and showers & toilets. The Dock was located in the northern region, while public beaches were situated in two different locations (northern & southern regions). In addition, showers & toilets was located in western region near the car parking.

By today, the area has changed considerably. Castle at the south-east corner replaced by hotel. While, showers and toilets were expanded in the western region near the car parking. Furthermore, cafes and shops were constructed near the private yachts in southern region and hotels are extended in the southern region. In addition public beach was replaced by private beach under the management of hotel. However, a passenger ferries, lifeboats and aroads remained in the same location.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all main features of the two maps, highlighting key transformations such as the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, and the addition of cafés and shops. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, identifying major general trends. While the comparison is clear overall, there are some minor inaccuracies in reporting specific details, such as stating that passenger ferries remained in the same location when the map shows them as part of the initial dock layout, and slight confusion regarding hotel extensions. Nevertheless, the response adequately satisfies the requirements of Academic Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is organized logically into four paragraphs, following a standard introduction, overview, and body paragraph structure. Cohesive devices are used to signal shifts between the two time periods, such as 'In 2000,' 'By today,' and 'While.' However, some cohesive links and referencing are mechanically handled or slightly awkward, such as 'While, showers and toilets were expanded...' and repetitive sentence starters. Paragraphing is generally appropriate, ensuring an overall clear progression of ideas from past to present, though paragraph two contains a slightly fragmented list of changes.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and spatial changes, incorporating terms such as 'relocated,' 'constructed,' 'consisted of,' and 'surrounded.' There are some lexical and collocational inaccuracies, for example, writing 'private beaches' (plural when there is only one private beach for the hotel) and minor word-choice errors like 'aroad' instead of 'roads'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with mixed success, but meaning remains clear throughout the response, fitting the criteria for Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using passive constructions ('were replaced,' 'were constructed') and subordinate clauses ('While some features remained unchanged...'). However, there are frequent grammatical slips and punctuation errors, including missing articles ('Castle at the south-east corner replaced by hotel'), incorrect verb tenses ('passenger ferries... remained'), and faulty comma usage before subordinate clauses. Although these errors are noticeable, they do not severely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6 score.

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