Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-05

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 7.5)

The two maps illustrate a gradual transformation of Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present time.

Overall, there has been a considerable change including the remodeling of the former disused castle, the privatization of the beach and a few minor developments.

In detail, to the east of the main road, showers/toilets were mirrored to the south of the once second car park. The former area for ship mooring was replaced by the private yacht marina to provide increased capacity. In the eastern peninsula, as discussed the former castle was reinvented into a hotel and the beach was privatized. Meanwhile, the usage was specifically limited for the hotel guests. In addition, cafes and shops were installed near the road along the lifeboat station.

In the northern region, in order to incorporate more space for ship mooring, the harbour was equipped with one more dock on the west of the passenger ferries. However, passenger ferries and the lifeboat station had no change and were in their original position. Throughout the period, many significant changes can be observed in the harbour to facilitate a shift towards tourism and leisure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have successfully identified the main features of the harbour's transformation, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the expansion of mooring facilities. You provide a clear overview and support your points with specific details from the maps. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, when mentioning the 'mirrored' showers/toilets, clarify their position relative to the original layout more explicitly. Overall, you have covered all parts of the task well, providing a logical summary of the changes between 2000 and the present.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is well-organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the specific details of the eastern and northern regions. Cohesive devices such as 'In detail', 'Meanwhile', and 'In addition' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the changes. The logical flow is consistent throughout the report, and referencing is clear. The structure is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and changes, such as 'remodeling', 'privatized', 'reinvented', and 'facilitate'. There is a good level of precision in your word choice, which helps convey the information clearly. While the vocabulary is effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terms related to urban planning or maritime infrastructure could further enhance your score. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally good. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the usage was specifically limited for the hotel guests', which could be phrased more naturally as 'usage was restricted to hotel guests'. However, these errors are infrequent and do not cause any confusion. Your ability to use passive voice and descriptive clauses demonstrates a solid command of grammatical structures.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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