Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-02

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 provided layouts illustrate a harbour in 2000 and how it changes and looks nowadays.

Overall, it was used mainly for commercial area but now it has replaced in a tourist attraction. Some spots have been totally changed such as disused castle and its nearby public beach, while some areas have been replaced with each other like fishing boats and marina.

In 2000, there were restrooms and car parking in the east and a marina in front of these used for yachts. There was a large public beach in the northeast corner with a small dock area used for passenger ferries. A disused castle with a small public beach was located in the southeast direction.

Today harbour has become a recreation point. The dock area has increased and fishing boats and marina are replaced with one another and new toilets are made with car parking in the southwest side. The disused castle has completely demolished and converted into a hotel with a private beach mainly for the hotel. New cafes and shops have been made near a road leading towards hotel and lifeboat.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main changes between the two maps of Porth Harbour. An overview is provided, noting the transformation from a more commercial area into a tourist-oriented attraction, and relevant comparisons are made, such as the relocation of the fishing boats and marina, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel. However, certain aspects are slightly under-developed or contain minor inaccuracies compared to the visual data; for instance, the text states that the harbour was used mainly for a commercial area, whereas the original map shows specific features like passenger ferries, fishing boats, and a marina rather than heavy commercial docks. To reach a higher level, the response would need to extend and support its comparisons with greater precision and depth regarding layout changes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from an introductory overview to body paragraphs detailing the past layout and subsequent changes. Paragraphing is used adequately to separate the introduction, the 2000 description, and the modern changes. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'In 2000' and 'Today harbour', but referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. For example, sentences in the body paragraphs rely heavily on basic subject-verb openings rather than varied cohesive ties. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to make organizational transitions more fluid and ensure referencing throughout the text is consistently clear and natural.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The candidate uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'marina', 'passenger ferries', 'lifeboat', and 'tourist attraction'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though this is sometimes accompanied by awkward word choice or slight collocation slips, such as 'it has replaced in a tourist attraction' instead of 'it has been transformed into a tourist attraction'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate and do not impede communication. To move to a higher band, the writer should demonstrate greater precision in word choice and use a wider variety of sophisticated, less common lexical items with natural control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writing demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures such as 'Some spots have been totally changed such as...' and 'The dock area has increased and fishing boats and marina are replaced with one another'. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures, such as passive voice misuse ('it has replaced in', 'have been completely demolished'), missing articles ('Today harbour', 'near a road leading towards hotel'), and tense inconsistencies. These errors occur across a mix of sentences, but they rarely impede communication. To improve, the writer needs to increase control over voice, passive constructions, and article usage, aiming for a higher proportion of error-free complex sentences.

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