Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-14

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)

As far as the graphic description is concerned, the two maps illustrate how porth harbour underwent a major commercial and recreational change between 2000 and today.

We can see major changes if we compare both maps, overall the harbour has transformed into a more tourist-oriented destination with expanded facilities, new commercial buildings and an extra dock.

In the year 2000, the western land area featured a north-south main road, a car park, and a shower/toilet block. The sea area contained a marina for private yachts, an area for fishing boats, a passenger ferry dock, and a lifeboat station. In the east, there was a public beach and a disused castle.

Currently, the significant changes have reshaped the site. An additional passenger dock has been has been constructed, and the private yacht marina has swapped positions with the fishing boat area. In the south, the disused castle has been converted into a hotel, and the adjacent public beach is now private. Furthermore, new cafes and shops have been built near the lifeboat station, extra restrooms have been added, and the southern car park now links directly to the main road.

In conclusion, we can see many major commercial and recreational changes from 2000 to today

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the harbour’s shift towards tourism and reports several key changes accurately, including the exchange of the marina and fishing-boat areas, the castle’s replacement by a hotel, and the beach becoming private. It also covers facilities and the dock, so the main stages of change are addressed and supported with relevant details. However, a few descriptions are imprecise: the public beach is in the north-east, not simply “in the east,” and the maps show an additional jetty and two boats at the dock rather than an “additional passenger dock.” The claim that the southern car park “now links directly” to the main road is not clearly supported by the plan. More precise location and dock details would strengthen an otherwise well-focused summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into a clear introduction, overview, description of the original layout, and account of current changes. This gives the reader a sensible progression, and phrases such as “In the year 2000,” “Currently,” and “Furthermore” help signal shifts between stages. The overview also prepares the reader for the details that follow. However, cohesion is occasionally mechanical: “We can see major changes” and “In conclusion, we can see” repeat a similar framing, while the final sentence largely restates the overview rather than adding a useful comparison. Some details are grouped broadly, which makes the spatial relationships less clear. Use more precise links between locations and changes, and let the final paragraph synthesise the main contrasts rather than repeat them.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is a useful range of task-related vocabulary, including “tourist-oriented destination,” “commercial buildings,” “converted,” and “adjacent,” which helps describe the harbour’s development. The writer also uses appropriate terms for facilities and land use. At times, however, word choice is imprecise or repetitive: “extra dock” misrepresents the added jetty, and “swapped positions” is less formal and exact than a phrase such as “exchanged locations.” “Major” is repeated, and “graphic description” is an awkward opening expression for this task. These choices do not prevent understanding, but more consistent use of precise map vocabulary and natural collocations would make the account more flexible and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and more developed sentence forms, including the overview clause “the harbour has transformed into a more tourist-oriented destination” and the sentence beginning “In the south.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the past-to-present contrast is generally handled appropriately. Some errors and awkward constructions remain. In “has been has been constructed,” the verb phrase is duplicated; this should read “has been constructed.” The sentence “In the east, there was a public beach and a disused castle” also uses a singular verb with a compound subject; “there were” is needed. The final sentence lacks a full stop. Careful proofreading for repeated words, agreement, and punctuation would improve control while retaining the current range of structures.

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