Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-07

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 given plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in the harbour between 2000 and the present day.

Overall, the most noticeable change is the castle is converted into hotel for accommodation. The harbour has undergone considerable changes and redevelopment and several new facilities have been introduced including leisure, and commercial areas.

On closer observation it can be seen that in 2000, the harbour was mainly used for fishing and maritime activities. In the harbour their were several other facilities such as a car park on the western side and transport facilities for passengers. The surrounding area was relatively undeveloped, with most of the space being occupied by harbour-related activities.

In contrast, at present, the harbour has become considerable development and refurbishment. New shops and cafes and other amenities have been added, making the harbour more attractive to visitors. The transport infrastructure has also been improved, providing better access to the area. The castle which was previously disused is now replaced into a hotel to provide accommodation for visitors.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You provide an introduction and an overall summary, identifying the hotel replacing the disused castle and the addition of visitor-oriented facilities. These are relevant main changes. However, the account is quite general and does not report several defining spatial changes shown in the plans: fishing boats move from the southern basin to the northern dock basin, while the marina moves in the opposite direction; the southern beach becomes private; and the dock gains another jetty. The claim that transport infrastructure was improved is not clearly supported by the map, which shows the passenger-ferry area and road but no explicit transport upgrade. To make the response more complete, select and describe these specific changes and their locations rather than relying on broad statements about redevelopment.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence: an introduction, an overview, a description of the earlier harbour, and a contrast with its present-day form. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “In contrast,” and “On closer observation” help signal this progression, and the paragraphs have distinct purposes. This gives the account a coherent overall structure. However, the two descriptive paragraphs remain broad, so the reader does not get a clear route through the map or a well-organised comparison of particular locations. Some links, such as “In contrast,” introduce general claims rather than specific contrasts. Grouping changes by area—for example, the northern basin and dock, then the southern shore—would make the progression more precise and cohesive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing change, including “redevelopment,” “facilities,” “maritime activities,” and “accommodation.” These choices communicate the general transformation and show some flexibility beyond basic wording. However, several expressions are imprecise or awkward for map reporting: “considerable development and refurbishment” does not clearly describe what changed, and “transport facilities for passengers” is less exact than naming the passenger ferries. “Leisure, and commercial areas” is also vague and the comma is unnecessary. More precise location and change vocabulary would improve the account, such as “relocated,” “replaced,” “converted,” and “on the southern shore.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the contrast structure “In contrast, at present…” and the relative clause “The castle which was previously disused…”. Most meanings remain understandable, but some grammatical errors are present. For example, “the castle is converted into hotel” needs a passive form suited to the time reference and an article, while “the harbour has become considerable development” has an incorrect structure. In “their were several other facilities,” the subject pronoun is incorrect, and “is now replaced into a hotel” uses an unsuitable verb pattern. Review passive constructions, articles, and verb complements, then proofread for agreement and sentence structure.

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