Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

The plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.

Overall, the harbour has been considerably modernised, with several facilities added for tourists, while some original features, such as the fishing area and castle, have been replaced or changed. The area has become more focused on leisure and tourism.

In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained two car parks, showers and toilets, a marina for private yachts, and a separate area for fishing boats. To the north-east, there was a dock and a passenger ferry service, while a public beach was located further north. A lifeboat station was situated near the road in the southern part of the harbour, and a castle was found on the south-eastern side.

Today, the harbour has undergone several developments. The fishing boats area has been moved to the north-west, where new showers and toilets have been built, while the previous fishing boat area has been converted into a larger marina for private yachts. In addition, cafés and shops have been constructed along the road near the lifeboat station, providing more facilities for visitors.

Another major change is that the castle in the south-east has been removed and replaced by a hotel. The southern beach area has also become private rather than public. However, the dock, passenger ferries, lifeboat station, main road, and northern public beach have remained largely unchanged. Overall, Porth Harbour has developed from a mainly fishing and transport-based harbour into a more tourist-oriented destination.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent and fully addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview that highlights the main trend of modernization and the shift toward tourism. The report effectively selects and reports the key features of the harbour, such as the relocation of the fishing area, the expansion of the marina, and the replacement of the castle with a hotel. Comparisons are made accurately throughout the text, and the information is well-organized, ensuring the reader can easily follow the changes between 2000 and the present day. There are no significant omissions, and the summary is balanced and comprehensive.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview, the initial state, and the subsequent developments. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Another major change', and 'However' are used naturally to link sentences and paragraphs, ensuring a smooth flow of information. The referencing is clear, and the structure of the report is coherent from start to finish. The use of cohesive devices is neither mechanical nor repetitive, which contributes to the overall clarity of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have demonstrated a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic report. Phrases such as 'considerably modernised', 'converted into', 'tourist-oriented destination', and 'remained largely unchanged' show a good command of collocation and style. The vocabulary is precise and contributes to the professional tone of the response. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the language used is natural and sophisticated enough to convey the intended meaning with precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high levels of accuracy. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the passive construction 'has been moved' and the use of relative clauses like 'where new showers and toilets have been built'. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are no grammatical slips that impede communication, and the control over tense usage—shifting between the past for 2000 and the present perfect for changes—is handled with great consistency.

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