Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-29
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 8.5)
The maps illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porlih Harbour between 2000 and the present today
Overall, the harbour has undergone considerable redevelopment. While the public beach, marina fishing boats, passenger ferries and road have remained, several new facilities have been added, including an extra dock, additional shopping and dining areas, a café, and a hotel replacing the former castle
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained a shopping and toilets building, a café, marina fishing boats, a car park and a fishing tackle shop. Today, the shopping and toilet facilities, car park and fishing tackle shop remain unchanged. However, a second shopping and dining complex has been constructed south of the original one. In addition, the former fishing huts have been replaced by a building for marina fishing boats, while a new café and shops has been established beside the marina.
On the eastern side, the public beach and passenger ferries have been retained. The number of docks has increased from two to three, providing additional berthing space for boats. The footbridge in the south-east has also remained in its original location. The most significant change is that the castle, which occupied the peninsula in 2000, has been demolished and replaced with a hotel. Furthermore, a walking path has been added around the peninsula, making the area more attractive for visitors.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 8.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5
The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the major changes and supported this with specific details from the maps. You successfully identified the key transformations, such as the demolition of the castle and the expansion of the dock facilities. The information is well-selected and reported accurately, making comparisons between the two time periods clear. The structure is logical, and the inclusion of an overview paragraph ensures that the main trends are highlighted, which is essential for a high band score in Task 1.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5
The response is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus: the introduction and overview, the western side, and the eastern side. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'Furthermore', which help the reader follow the narrative of the changes. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the report. The information is sequenced in a way that makes the comparison between the two maps easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 8.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes accurately. Terms like 'redevelopment', 'demolished', 'retained', and 'berthing space' are used appropriately and demonstrate a good level of precision. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and fits the context of describing maps, there is room for slightly more sophisticated collocations to reach the highest band. Overall, the lexical range is more than adequate for the task, and there are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of 'While...' clauses and relative clauses ('which occupied the peninsula'). Most sentences are error-free, and the control of grammar is strong. There is a minor subject-verb agreement error in the phrase 'a new café and shops has been established' (should be 'have been'), but this is a rare slip and does not affect the overall clarity. Punctuation is generally accurate, and the writing flows well throughout the report.
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