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. Throughout the period, many notable changes can be observed in the harbour to facilitate a transition towards tourism and recreational activities.

In detail, to the east of the main road, showers/toilets were added to the south of the once second car park. The former area for ship mooring was replaced by a private yacht marina to provide increased capacity. In the eastern peninsula, as discussed, the former castle was converted into a hotel and the beach was privatized. Meanwhile, the access to the beach was specifically limited to 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.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively summarizes the main features of the harbour's transformation. You successfully identified key changes such as the conversion of the castle, the privatization of the beach, and the addition of the marina and shops. The overview is clear and sets the tone for the report. You made relevant comparisons between the two time periods, such as noting the replacement of the ship mooring area with a yacht marina. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial descriptions are precise; for instance, clarifying the exact location of the new dock relative to the existing structures would further enhance the clarity of your report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by location. The use of cohesive devices such as 'In detail', 'Meanwhile', and 'In addition' helps guide the reader through the changes smoothly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different areas of the harbour. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the eastern side to the northern region. The referencing is generally clear, though ensuring that every pronoun or reference clearly points back to the intended feature would make the flow even more seamless.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes, such as 'transformation', 'remodeling', 'privatization', and 'facilitate'. The use of topic-specific language like 'yacht marina', 'passenger ferries', and 'lifeboat station' is accurate. There is evidence of some flexibility in word choice, which allows for a precise description of the developments. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or varied synonyms for 'added' or 'changed' would elevate the lexical score further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writing displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use passive voice effectively to describe the changes, such as 'showers/toilets were added' and 'the harbour was equipped with'. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors that impede communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional or concessive clauses, to demonstrate greater control over more sophisticated sentence patterns.

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

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