Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06

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 7.0)

The map compares the features and labels of Porth harbour between 2000 and the present. Overall, some features have remained consistent while others have been added or renamed.

To begin with, the ones that remained consistent in both the maps are the locations of the car parks, the lifeboat area and the retention of the singular dock and northern showers and toilets from 2000. The singular road from the main road till the lifeboat area is still the same.

However, several new adjustments and constructions have been done. This includes the additional docking station next to the original, the renovation of the disused castle into a hotel and the development of new showers and toilets section next to the larger southern car park. Interestingly, the route to the soutern car park has been changed from the main road to the simple road to its south. An extension has also been made from the single road to the hotel and the initially public beach next to it has been converted to a private beach for the hotel. Lastly, the location of the marina and fishing boats area has been switched with the larger area being designated for the private yachts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively identifies the main features of the harbour and makes relevant comparisons between the two time periods. You have successfully highlighted key changes such as the hotel development, the beach conversion, and the reconfiguration of the marina. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the transformation. To reach a higher band, ensure that all spatial relationships are described with maximum precision; for example, describing the exact location of the new docking station relative to the original would add depth. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well and provides a clear, logical summary of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary of changes. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'However', and 'Lastly' helps guide the reader through the information effectively. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate consistent features from new developments. The progression of ideas is smooth, and referencing is generally clear. To improve, you could vary your cohesive devices slightly more to avoid a somewhat mechanical feel in the transition between sentences, but the current structure is already quite effective and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'renovation', 'designated', 'retained', and 'converted' appropriately. There are some minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'simple road' (which is vague) and 'singular road' (where 'single' or 'main' would be more natural). However, these do not impede communication. You have successfully used topic-specific vocabulary related to maps and urban development. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise descriptive adjectives and collocations to describe the scale and nature of the changes more fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional slips, such as 'the ones that remained consistent in both the maps' (which is slightly awkward) and 'the route to the soutern car park' (a spelling error). Your control of tense is generally good, effectively contrasting the past state with the present. To reach a higher band, focus on increasing the variety of complex structures and ensuring absolute accuracy in spelling and preposition usage, as these small errors prevent the writing from being completely error-free.

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

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