Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-10

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)

In the western sector, the positions of the fishing boats and the marina for private yachts have been swapped. The fishing boats area is now located in the northwest, while the marina has been expanded and moved to the southwest. To accommodate visitors, an additional car park, as well as a second set of showers and toilets, have been constructed alongside the new marina area.

In the central and eastern sections, additional docks have been built in the northern water body to accommodate more passenger ferries. Along the main road leading east towards the peninsula, new cafés and shops have been added next to the existing lifeboat station.

On the eastern peninsula, the disused castle has been converted into a hotel, accessible by a newly extended branch of the main road. Additionally, the public beach situated south of the castle in 2000 has been transformed into a private beach reserved specifically for hotel guests, leaving only the northern beach open to the public.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively identifies and reports the main features of the harbour's transformation. You have successfully compared the 2000 layout with the current one, covering the western, central, and eastern sections. The inclusion of specific details, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel and the changes to the beach access, demonstrates a clear understanding of the visual data. To reach a higher band, ensure you include an overview paragraph that highlights the most significant changes—such as the overall expansion of facilities and the shift toward tourism—rather than jumping straight into specific details. This would provide a more comprehensive summary of the trends.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific geographical area of the harbour. This structure makes the information easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'In the western sector', 'In the central and eastern sections', and 'On the eastern peninsula' to guide the reader through the map. The progression of ideas is clear and consistent. To improve, you could incorporate more varied linking words or phrases to connect sentences within paragraphs, which would enhance the flow and make the transitions between individual points feel more sophisticated and less mechanical.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes, such as 'accommodate', 'converted', 'transformed', and 'disused'. The terminology is precise and relevant to the task. There are no significant errors in word choice or spelling. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise collocations or slightly more advanced descriptive language to describe the scale of change, such as 'undergone significant redevelopment' or 'a complete overhaul of the infrastructure', which would elevate the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your writing displays a good command of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the passive construction 'have been constructed' and the participial phrase 'accessible by a newly extended branch'. The grammar is accurate, and there are no errors that impede communication. The punctuation is also handled correctly throughout the text. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more subordinate clauses to show cause and effect or contrast, which would demonstrate greater flexibility in your grammatical control.

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

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