Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-12

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 maps compare the layout of a harbour named Porth before and after its redevelopment between 2000 and today.

Overall, the harbour has undergone significant changes over the period where multiple facilities and amenities have been included while reconstruction of the castle to a hotel with a dedicated private beach is the biggest renovation noticed.

Previously in 2000, in the western part of the harbour, there were two car parking lots and one shower & toilet facility. Beside that, a marina for private yachts had a separate space and just opposite to it, fishing boats were situated. Furthermore, in the northern part a dock with two passenger ferries can be seen and further north, there was a beach for people. A road ran along the southern shore to a lifeboat station where a disused castle was located with a public beach adjacent to it.

However, today in the western part of the harbour, two car parks adjacent to the main road have been developed, one of them was previously connected to the road by the southern shore, with a new set of shower & toilets facility just beside the two car parks. The fishing boats and marina have swapped their places presently, providing larger space for private yachts. Additionally, another dock and passenger ferry have been included in the previous location. Meanwhile, the public beach further northern part has remained untouched. Nevertheless, the road that ran along the southern shore has been redeveloped properly creating better transportation system for visitors, installing cafes and shops near the lifeboat station. The former disused castle has been renovated into a hotel to attract tourism with a private beach for the hotel which was previously a public beach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all key features of the harbour's transformation. You have successfully identified the main changes, such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the expansion of the ferry docks, and the conversion of the castle into a hotel. The overview provides a clear summary of the overall trend of development. To reach a higher band, ensure that comparisons are more precise; for instance, when mentioning the 'swapped' locations, explicitly stating the new arrangement helps the reader visualize the change more clearly. The report is well-structured and addresses all requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the general overview to specific details in the western and southern areas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two time periods. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'However', 'Meanwhile', and 'Nevertheless' to link ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is clear, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow. Overall, the structure supports the reader's understanding of the spatial changes described.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary suitable for describing maps and changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'amenities', 'adjacent', and 'untouched'. There is some attempt to use less common collocations like 'dedicated private beach' and 'disused castle'. However, there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'further northern part' (should be 'further north') and 'creating better transportation system' (missing an article). Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the information with precision and flexibility, and the errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The maps compare the layout...' and 'The road that ran along the southern shore has been redeveloped properly...'. There is good control over passive voice, which is appropriate for this type of task. However, there are occasional errors in grammar and punctuation, such as '...reconstruction of the castle to a hotel... is the biggest renovation noticed' (should be 'into a hotel') and '...new set of shower & toilets facility' (subject-verb agreement/pluralization issues). These errors are non-systematic and do not hinder the clarity of your report.

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

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