Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour since 2000, comparing its original layout with its current appearance.

Overall, the harbour has undergone significant redevelopment, with several new facilities being added, including cafés and shops, additional showers and toilets, and a hotel. However, a number of features, such as the public beach, passenger ferries and lifeboat, have remained unchanged.

One of the most notable changes is the expansion of the dock area. Additionally, a new shower and toilet facility has been added next to the lower car park on the western side of the harbour. The location of fishing boats have been replaced the private marina. Another prominent change is the addition of cafés and shops near the lifeboat, along the road.

The lifeboat and the main road have remained in the same locations, as well as the public beach. However, a new road has been constructed leading towards the former castle, which has now been converted into a hotel. Furthermore, the beach in front of the hotel is now a private beach reserved for hotel guests.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response satisfies the requirements for the task by identifying and reporting the main features and significant changes shown in the two plans. All parts of the prompt are addressed, presenting a clear overview of the overall transformation of Porth Harbour. Key shifts are noted, such as the redevelopment of the castle into a hotel, the addition of cafés and shops, and the swap of locations between the fishing boats and the private marina. However, some aspects of the visual data lack full extension; for instance, the exact nature of the dock expansion could have been elaborated further. The selection of data is generally accurate, providing a clear summary of how the area looks today compared to 2000. To reach a higher level, the response would need to integrate a more fully developed, comprehensive comparison of all spatial changes with greater detail across every identified feature.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the introductory summary to the body paragraphs detailing specific spatial changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct thematic areas, such as general additions and specific location shifts. Cohesive devices are employed to link ideas, such as 'Overall', 'Additionally', and 'However'. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally feel slightly mechanical or repetitive in sentence openings, which prevents the progression from feeling entirely smooth. Furthermore, there is a minor contradiction in referencing specific unchanged elements across paragraphs. To achieve a higher standard, the text would require a more seamless integration of cohesive links and more precise tracking of elements from one paragraph to the next without overlapping details.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates an adequate and flexible range of vocabulary suited to academic descriptive tasks. The writer successfully attempts less common lexical items and collocations, such as 'significant redevelopment', 'prominent change', and 'converted into a hotel'. Word choices are generally appropriate for describing map changes, accurately utilizing terms like 'expansion', 'relocated', and 'reserved for'. While minor slips occur—such as the awkward phrasing 'The location of fishing boats have been replaced the private marina'—these do not impede communication. To reach the next level, the student needs to consistently avoid minor collocation and prepositional slips when using less common vocabulary, while demonstrating a slightly wider and more sophisticated variety of stylistic expressions throughout the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over various structures such as passive voice constructions and subordinate clauses. There are several error-free sentences, including 'The plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour since 2000' and 'a new road has been constructed leading towards the former castle'. However, a notable grammatical error occurs in the sentence 'The location of fishing boats have been replaced the private marina', featuring a subject-verb agreement error and missing preposition. Other minor structural awkwardness appears, though punctuation and overall control remain generally sound. To move higher, the student must eliminate grammatical lapses entirely and demonstrate more consistent control over complex syntactic structures without errors.

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