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 underwent and were in their original position.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

You have provided a clear overview of the changes at Porth Harbour, successfully identifying the main trends such as the shift toward tourism and the specific modifications to the infrastructure. You covered all key areas, including the conversion of the castle, the privatization of the beach, and the addition of new facilities like the yacht marina and shops. The information is well-selected and reported accurately. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for instance, you could explicitly contrast the capacity of the original mooring area with the new marina to provide more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group information by location. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'In detail', 'Meanwhile', and 'In addition' to link your points effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the specific details. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, when you mention 'as discussed', it is slightly redundant as the information was just introduced. Overall, the flow is smooth and professional.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a task describing maps, such as 'remodeling', 'privatization', 'facilitate', and 'underwent'. Your word choice is generally precise and contributes to a formal tone. There are no significant spelling errors, and your use of collocations like 'increased capacity' and 'original position' is natural. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items related to geographical changes, such as 'redeveloped', 'transformed', or 'expanded', to show greater flexibility in your descriptive language.

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 tense and punctuation is strong. For example, the use of passive voice in 'the harbour was equipped with' is appropriate for this task type. There are very few grammatical slips, and the meaning is always clear. To push into the higher bands, try to vary your sentence beginnings even further and incorporate more complex structures, such as conditional or relative clauses, to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical control.

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

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