Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)
The maps show the transformation of Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present. Overall, a number of new developments have been made for entertainment and high utilization of the harbour.
On the left side of the harbour, one more complex for showers and toilets has been created and the southern car park is now directly accessible from the main road. The positions of the marina and the fishing boats have been swapped.
The docking capacity of the harbour has been doubled by adding one more dock to the west of the previous dock. In the south of the map, new cafes and shops have been built to the west of the lifeboat station. The old castle is now functioning as a hotel and a new road has been built from the existing road to the hotel.
The small public beach at south of the harbour has been transformed into a private beach exclusively for hotel guests, while no changes have been made to the northern public beach or to passenger ferries.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main transformations between the two plans of Porth Harbour. A clear overview is provided in the second sentence, noting that developments focused on entertainment and increased utilization. Key changes are reported accurately, such as the swapping of the marina and fishing boat zones, the addition of a second dock, the conversion of the castle into a hotel, and the modification of the southern beach into a private hotel beach. Comparisons are made effectively throughout the response, meeting the requirements of Academic Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear progression from an introductory overview to specific spatial details regarding the western, central, and southern sections of the harbour. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related ideas together, such as the adjustments on the western side versus the structural additions in the south. Cohesive devices are handled adequately through phrases like 'On the left side of the harbour' and 'In the south of the map', though transitions could occasionally be smoother to achieve a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and geographical changes, using terms such as 'transformation', 'docking capacity', 'exclusively', and 'relocated' (implied via swapping). While there are some recurring vocabulary items and slightly repetitive phrasing ('new road', 'new cafes'), the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication. Less common lexical items are attempted with reasonable success.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
A mix of simple and complex sentence structures is used throughout the response, including passive constructions like 'has been created', 'have been built', and 'has been transformed'. The student demonstrates good control of tense usage, appropriately contrasting the past state with present developments. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with only minor errors (such as 'at south of the harbour' instead of 'to the south of the harbour'). Errors do not impede communication.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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