Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15
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 maps compare the layout of Porth harbor in 2000 with its present-day arrangements.
Overall, Porth Harbour has undergone significant changes in the past two and a half decades. While the car parks, shower and toilet areas as well as the dock have doubled in number, the disused castle is completely repurposed for the visitors in the form of a hotel, along with the facility of a private beach. Moreover, locations of a few of the spots, such as the Marina and fishing boats, have been swapped too.
One of the major developments to avoid traffic congestion has been the provision of direct access of the south-west parking lot through the main road. Adjacent to the parking area, another shower and toilet facility has been constructed. Apart from switching the positions of the fishing boat and the private yacht areas with each other, an additional docking site for ferries has been provided on the north edge of the harbor.
Another marked transformation is the construction of a hotel with a designated private beach next to it, which had previously been an unused castle and a public beach respectively. In addition to that, there are newly opened cafes and shops next to the lifeboat section, with a direct access to the main road.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have provided a clear and accurate summary of the changes between the two maps. You successfully identified the main features, such as the new hotel, the relocated marina, and the improved road access. The overview is effective, highlighting the most significant transformations. You made good comparisons, such as noting the repurposing of the castle and the swapping of boat locations. To reach a higher band, ensure that all details are precise; for instance, you mentioned the car parks have 'doubled in number,' but the visual evidence shows a specific increase in capacity rather than just a doubling of the number of lots. Overall, the response is well-focused and covers all key aspects of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that group related developments effectively. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'Apart from,' and 'In addition to that' to guide the reader through the information. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from general changes to specific infrastructure and facility updates. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different types of developments. The flow is natural, and the referencing between the 2000 map and the present-day map is consistently clear throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes, such as 'repurposed,' 'congestion,' 'designated,' and 'transformation.' The language is precise and helps the reader visualize the changes clearly. There is a good awareness of collocation, such as 'traffic congestion' and 'direct access.' While the vocabulary is effective and sufficient for the task, incorporating a few more sophisticated or varied synonyms for 'constructed' or 'changed' could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical control is strong, and there are no errors that impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
You use a variety of complex sentence structures effectively, such as 'While the car parks... have doubled in number, the disused castle is completely repurposed.' Your control over grammar is strong, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage complex ideas. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. To push toward a higher band, you could experiment with even more varied sentence beginnings or passive constructions to describe the changes, although your current control is already quite sophisticated and accurate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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