Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17

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 6.0)

The plan compares the appearance of Porth Harbour in 2000 and the present day.

Overall, the plan has underwent significant development, with various facilities being added or replaced. The location of marina private yachts and fishing boats were exchanged, meanwhile castle were replaced by a hotel.

First of all, another dock was introduced, so that passengers can travel from one place to another, whereas Cafes and shops were established. Simultaneously, the marina and the areas designated for private yachts and fishing boats changes positions. Moreover, another showers and toilets were introduced on the western-southern direction.

Secondly, the castle was demolished, and a Hotel was constructed. Furthermore, on the present day, the main road is connected to the both car parks from the western direction, and removed from the southern direction. At the end, public beach is transformed into private beach, which is strictly accessible to the hotel staff and the members.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the main overall changes: the marina and fishing-boat areas switch places, the disused castle becomes a hotel, and facilities are added. These are relevant comparisons and give the response a clear overview. However, some details are inaccurate or insufficiently developed. The dock was not newly introduced; it gained an additional jetty and a second berthed boat. The road was not removed from the south: it remains, while the beach south of it becomes private. The claim that access is restricted to hotel staff and members is not shown; the map says the beach is for hotel use. Mentioning the new cafés and shops and the second showers/toilets block is useful, but more precise descriptions of their locations would make the account more complete.

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 “First of all” and “Secondly” help signal progression, and the main changes are grouped in a generally understandable way. However, the organisation is sometimes mechanical, and the sequence does not consistently follow the map’s geography. For example, the dock, cafés and shops, and exchanged boat areas are combined without clear spatial links, while the road and beach changes are presented together at the end. Some connections are also unclear, particularly “another dock was introduced, so that passengers can travel from one place to another.” Grouping changes by location and using precise references such as “in the northern basin” would improve flow and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for describing map changes, including “replaced,” “established,” “designated,” and “transformed.” These choices show an attempt to vary language rather than repeat basic terms, and the overall meaning is usually clear. However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “another dock was introduced” misdescribes the added jetty, “the areas designated for private yachts and fishing boats changes positions” is awkward, and “western-southern direction” is not a natural way to locate a facility. “Strictly accessible” also adds a restriction not indicated by the map. Prefer standard map language such as “an additional jetty was added,” “the two areas exchanged locations,” and “in the south-west.” Greater precision would strengthen your vocabulary control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using clauses with “whereas,” “so that,” and “which,” and most of your meaning remains understandable. However, some errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction prevent consistently accurate control. For example, “has underwent” should be “has undergone,” “the location … were exchanged” needs singular agreement or a plural subject, and “castle were replaced” should be “the castle was replaced.” In “the marina and the areas … changes positions,” the verb should agree with the plural subject and use the past tense. Articles are also missing in phrases such as “another showers and toilets” and “on the present day.” Check each sentence for subject–verb agreement, tense consistency, and article use, especially when describing completed changes.

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