Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20
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 plans below illustrate a Porth Harbour in 2000 and how it looks in present time.
Overall, it is evident that fishing boats section has been replaced with private yachts section which is named as marina in current layout. Likewise, castle has been replaced with a hotel. However, the life boat, public ferries and car park section remained unchanged.
In detail, it is clear that there was only one section for showers and toilets, but there is a new section been introduced for showers and toilets at north of car parking area. On the other hand, a new section has been introduced for cafes and shops at the east side of lifeboat area. While it can be seen that the car parking area remained unchanged over the period of time.
Turning to the dock area there is a new section introduced for dock in current layout. However, private beach is now dedicated for the hotel in current layout. Meanhile, the road which leads to the lifeboat section remained constant.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You identify two major changes accurately: the fishing-boat area becomes the marina, and the disused castle is replaced by a hotel. You also mention the new cafés and shops and the additional showers and toilets. However, the overview is partly unclear and includes inaccurate claims: the lifeboat and road remain, but the passenger ferries are not shown as unchanged, and the car parks are not simply unchanged because a second facilities block is added nearby. The dock gains an additional jetty, rather than a new dock section. Important changes are also under-reported, especially the relocation of fishing boats to the northern basin and the conversion of the southern public beach to a private hotel beach. A clearer overview and more precise comparisons would make the summary more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall arrangement, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for changes around the facilities and dock. This gives the reader a generally coherent route through the information. You also use linking expressions such as “Overall,” “On the other hand” and “Turning to.” However, some connections are mechanical or do not express the relationship accurately: “However” introduces the unchanged lifeboat and car park, while “While” begins a sentence that is not completed as a contrast. The sequence of details also jumps between locations, and references such as “a new section” are sometimes vague. Grouping changes by area and using clearer links between old and new features would improve progression and cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
Your vocabulary is adequate for describing map changes, and terms such as “replaced,” “introduced,” “remained unchanged” and “current layout” help communicate the main ideas. You also attempt relevant location language, including “at the east side” and “north of.” However, some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive. “Fishing boats section” and “private yachts section” would be more naturally expressed as “area for fishing boats” and “marina for private yachts”; “new section introduced for dock” does not accurately describe the additional jetty. “Present time” is less natural than “today,” and “car parking area” is better rendered as “car park.” These choices do not prevent understanding, but more precise map vocabulary would make the report clearer.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
You use a mixture of simple statements and more complex forms, including “it is evident that…” and the contrast introduced by “While.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “a Porth Harbour” has an unnecessary article, and “there is a new section been introduced” has an incorrect verb construction; use “a new section has been introduced.” The sentence beginning “While it can be seen…” is a dependent clause without a complete main clause. There are also tense and agreement issues in “fishing boats section has been replaced” and “the life boat, public ferries and car park section remained.” Check articles, plural forms and consistent past-to-present comparisons, while retaining the range of sentence structures you attempt.
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