Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-19
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 plans show how Porth Harbour has changed from 2000 to the present day.
Overall, the harbour has been considerably redeveloped, with new tourist facilities added and several existing features altered. The most significant changes include the replacement of the castle with a hotel, the addition of cafés and shops, and the expansion of marina facilities.
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained two car parks, showers and toilets, and a marina for private yachts. Fishing boats were located further east, while the dock and passenger-ferry facilities occupied the northern part of the harbour. A public beach was situated in the north, and another public beach stretched along the southern shore beside the castle. The lifeboat station stood next to the road.
Today, the original facilities on the western side remain, but an additional set of showers and toilets and another car park have been added. The fishing-boat area has been retained, while the marina and dock have been expanded. Cafés and shops have also been constructed beside the road. Finally, the castle has been replaced by a hotel, and the southern public beach has become a private beach for hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response effectively addresses the task by providing a clear overview of the main changes between 2000 and the present day. You have successfully identified the key developments, such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the expansion of the marina. The information is logically grouped, with a clear distinction between the past and present states. All parts of the prompt are covered, and the comparisons are accurate and relevant. To reach a higher band, ensure that you highlight the most striking differences even more explicitly in the overview to provide a more comprehensive summary of the trends.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is well-organized and follows a logical progression. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, the overview, and the detailed descriptions of the two time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the timeline. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure is coherent, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, making the response very readable.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redeveloped', 'altered', 'retained', and 'constructed'. The word choice is precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no spelling errors, and the terminology related to the harbour features is accurate. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common synonyms to demonstrate a wider lexical range, such as using 'undergone significant transformation' instead of 'been considerably redeveloped'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'The fishing-boat area has been retained, while the marina and dock have been expanded.' The use of passive voice is appropriate for describing changes to infrastructure. The grammar is accurate throughout, with no significant errors that impede communication. The punctuation is also handled correctly. To achieve a higher score, you could attempt to use a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional or concessive clauses, to show even greater flexibility.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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