Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-08

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 map compares different features in the development of a harbour from 2000 till now.

Overall, there are a significant number of changes in the Porth Harbour. The main features include transfromation of the castle into hotel with private beach, addition of area for dock, cafes alongside the road, and finally the shifting of fishing boats and marina.

Looking into the detailed information, it can be seen that the disused castle is now being developed into a hotel, with a beach which was originally used by the public. Moreover, some cafes and shops has been built along the road side. On the contrary, the area occupied for private yachts is now being used for fishing boats and vice versa. Furthermore, a new place for showers and toilets has been built on the North-West side above car park.

In addition, in 2000, there was a single dock for the boats in the North corner of the harbour. However, there has been the development of an additional dock area specifically for the passenger ferries.

In conclusion, the harbour today has been modified with a series of changes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall changes, including the castle becoming a hotel, the beach becoming private, the addition of cafés and shops, and the exchange of the marina and fishing-boat areas. These are relevant and show a clear understanding of the plans. However, some details are inaccurate or insufficiently developed: the new facilities are not simply “above” the north-west car park, and the dock has an additional jetty rather than an “additional dock area specifically for the passenger ferries.” The overview also omits other notable changes, such as the second showers-and-toilets block and the altered arrangement of boats at the entrance. This covers the task well in broad terms, but greater precision and fuller reporting would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, an overview, two detail paragraphs and a brief conclusion. The sequence from general changes to specific features is easy to follow, and linking expressions such as “Moreover,” “Furthermore” and “In addition” help signal relationships. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and “On the contrary” does not express a contrast accurately when describing the marina and fishing boats swapping locations. The final “In conclusion” repeats the overview without adding information, while the detail paragraphs could be organised more clearly by location or by changes to facilities and water areas. Overall progression is coherent, but more precise referencing and less formulaic linking would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of vocabulary for describing changes, including “transformation,” “shifting,” “occupied” and “developed,” and the main meaning is generally clear. There are, however, several spelling and word-choice issues that limit precision: “transfromation” is misspelled, “area for dock” is unclear, and “dock area” mislabels the additional jetty. “Road side” is also less natural than “roadside,” while “a new place for showers and toilets” is vague for a map description. Some phrases, such as “a significant number of changes,” are understandable but could be more concise and natural. More accurate map vocabulary and careful spelling would make the description more precise and flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including the overview sentence with several coordinated changes and the contrast introduced by “However.” Most sentences communicate their meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “some cafes and shops has been built” has subject–verb disagreement and an incorrect plural verb form; use “some cafés and shops have been built.” In “the transformation of the castle into hotel,” the article before “hotel” is missing. The phrase “a beach which was originally used by the public” also needs a clearer tense relationship to show that the beach has changed status. Review agreement, articles and tense choices, while continuing to use varied sentence structures.

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