Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-12

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 plan illustrates the changes intoduced in Porth Harbour in 2000 and how it looks different from the past.

At a glance, it is evident that the porth has become much more attractive and it consists of different amenities as compared to formerly. Moreover, there is an addition of various facilities for visitors enjoyment .

To begin with, it can be seen that the disused castle has been turned into a hotel and it has access to a private beach aswell which was a public beach previously and it can be utilised by hotel staff and visitors. Moreover, there is an addition of extra showers and toilets besides the car park area. Furthermore, the fishing boat area has been switched with marina (private yachts) area and also an extra dock has been added for ferries and ships.

It is visible that new cafes and shops have been opened adjacent to lifeboat area so visitors can eat and shop. The porth looks more well equipped and attractive as compared to the past.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You identify several important changes, including the castle becoming a hotel, the southern beach becoming private, the relocation of the fishing boats and marina, and the addition of cafés and shops. These details are relevant and your overview recognises that the harbour has gained visitor facilities. However, the overview is quite general, and some descriptions are inaccurate or unclear: the dock has an additional jetty and two boats, rather than simply “an extra dock,” and the extra showers and toilets are not just beside a car park but are part of changes in both the north-west and south-west. The response also omits other useful comparisons, such as the exchange of the northern and southern water areas. A more precise overview and fuller reporting of the main spatial changes would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing changes. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moreover,” and “Furthermore” help guide the reader, and the main points are generally easy to follow. However, the progression is not consistently organised by location or by type of change, so details such as the dock, beach, and facilities are grouped somewhat loosely. Some linking words are repetitive, and “The porth looks more well equipped and attractive” repeats the overview rather than advancing the description. The reference in “which was a public beach previously” is also slightly unclear. Grouping the changes into northern and southern areas, and using clearer references, would make the cohesion more flexible and precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a reasonable range of task-related vocabulary, including “disused castle,” “private beach,” “adjacent,” and “facilities,” and the meaning is generally clear. There are also attempts at more descriptive phrasing, such as “switched with,” although this is not the most natural collocation for map changes. Several word choices are vague or informal for an IELTS map summary: “extra dock” does not accurately name the added jetty, while “more attractive” and “well equipped” offer subjective evaluation rather than precise description. Spelling and form errors include “intoduced,” “porth,” and “cafes.” Aim for accurate map vocabulary and neutral verbs such as “was replaced by,” “was relocated,” and “was converted into.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “that,” “which,” and “so,” and most of the intended meaning can be understood. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “the porth has become much more attractive and it consists,” the present-tense description is awkwardly combined with a claim about change; “the harbour now includes” would be clearer. The phrase “it can be utilised by hotel staff and visitors” has an unclear pronoun reference, and “there is an addition of extra showers” is an awkward construction. Punctuation is also inconsistent, including the space before the full stop after “enjoyment.” More controlled tense choices and clearer sentence construction would improve accuracy while preserving your range.

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