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 the present.

Overall, the area underwent significant changes including private beaches, hotels, cafes and 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, hotels and some existing features including fishing boats, a marina was 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 and toilets were located in the western region near the car parking.

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

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The candidate successfully addresses the prompt by identifying the main features and changes at Porth harbour between 2000 and the present. An overview is attempted, noting the addition of amenities like hotels and shops, though it contains some slight inaccuracies regarding the swapped locations (e.g., the fishing boats and marina swapped places, rather than just being replaced). The body paragraphs detail the spatial changes adequately, such as the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel and the establishment of a private beach. However, some comparisons could be more precise regarding exact relocations, aligning the response with a Band 6.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The text exhibits a clear overall arrangement and is divided into logical paragraphs covering the introduction, overview, past layout, and present layout. Cohesive devices are used to signal time transitions, such as 'In 2000' and 'TO date'. However, some cohesive links and referencing are slightly mechanical or awkward, as seen in the phrase 'While, showers and toilets were expanded...' where punctuation and transition logic are disrupted. Paragraphing is adequate, but transitions between ideas can feel abrupt.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including topic-specific terms like 'passenger ferries', 'marina', 'pier', and 'amenities'. However, there are noticeable word choice and expression errors, such as 'TO date' instead of 'To date', and imprecise phrasing like 'hotels were extended in the southern region' when referring to the new hotel replacing the castle. Less common vocabulary is attempted with occasional inaccuracy, placing it firmly at a Band 6.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. There are instances of accurate complex mapping ('While some features remained unchanged like roads...'). Nevertheless, several grammatical and punctuation errors occur, such as sentence fragments and awkward commas ('While, showers and toilets were expanded...'). Errors are frequent enough to detract from fluency but do not impede overall communication, matching the Band 6 descriptor.

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

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