Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 maps illustrate the changes made to a harbour by comparing its look from 2000 to the present. Overall, there are some significant alterations in today's Porth harbour such as the conversion of castle into the hotel and that of public beach into private beach. Moreover, some cafes and shops have also been built along the road.

In 2000, the Porth harbour had a disused castle, at it's southeast corner, which has now been converted into a hotel. Meanwhile, the public beach near the castle has also become a private beach for the hotel. In addition, some cafes and shops have also been built along the road beside the lifeboat.

There was only one dock in the harbour's plan in 2000, but the number have now been doubled. Moreover, the marina and fishing boats have exchanged their places. There were no showers and toilets within the southern car park in 2000, while in today's plan some showers and toilets are available along this parking area. The public beach, at the north-east side and the passenger ferries, near the dock, all remain at the same position in both the plans.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You provide a clear overview of several major changes, including the castle becoming a hotel, the southern beach becoming private, and new cafés and shops. You also accurately note that the marina and fishing-boat areas have switched locations, and that the north-eastern public beach remains. This gives the report a clear focus and addresses the main comparison. Some details, however, are imprecise: the dock itself is not doubled; an additional jetty is added, with two boats shown. The statement about showers and toilets “within the southern car park” is also unclear, as the facilities are added beside the marina and its car park. To strengthen the report, describe these changes more precisely and include other notable developments, such as the added facilities in the north-west and the expanded dock arrangement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an overview followed by paragraphs describing changes, and the information generally progresses in a sensible order. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Meanwhile,” and “In addition” help connect points, while the final sentence usefully identifies features that remain unchanged. This clear overall arrangement is a strength. However, the second paragraph repeats the overview’s points about the hotel and private beach, and the final paragraph combines several unrelated changes without a clear grouping. Some transitions, particularly “Moreover,” are used for simple additions rather than showing a precise relationship. Grouping the changes by location or by type—land use, facilities, and harbour activity—would make the progression more controlled and reduce repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for describing map changes, including “conversion,” “exchanged their places,” “remain,” and “converted into.” These choices communicate the main developments, and the reader can follow the comparisons. There are, however, some awkward or imprecise expressions: “changes made to a harbour by comparing its look” is not a natural way to introduce the maps, and “the number have now been doubled” does not accurately name what increased. “Along the road beside the lifeboat” is also less precise than describing the cafés and shops as adjacent to the lifeboat station. Aim for more exact map vocabulary and natural collocations, while avoiding repeated use of “some” and “also.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “while” and “which,” and most sentences communicate their meaning clearly. There are some grammatical errors and awkward constructions that keep the control from being consistently strong. For example, “at it's southeast corner” uses an incorrect possessive form and article; “the number have” has subject–verb disagreement; and “in both the plans” has an unnecessary article. The opening phrase “by comparing its look from 2000 to the present” is also structurally awkward. Check agreement and articles carefully, and use a consistent present-day reference such as “today” or “at present.” More accurate control of these patterns would make the varied sentence structures more effective.

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