Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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 two maps illustrate how Porth Harbour has changed from 2000 to the present day.

Overall, the harbour has undergone considerable development, particularly in terms of tourism. Several original facilities remain, while new amenities, including a hotel, cafés and shops, have been introduced.

In 2000, the western side contained a car park, showers and toilets, a marina for private yachts and an area for fishing boats. Today, an additional car park and shower facilities have been constructed, while the marina and fishing boat areas have exchanged locations.

In the central area, the dock, passenger ferry facilities and lifeboat station have remained largely unchanged. However, cafés and shops have been built beside the road near the lifeboat station. The most significant change is in the south-east, where the disused castle has been converted into a hotel. Consequently, the nearby public beach is now private and exclusively reserved for hotel guests today.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all parts of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the changes and selected key features to describe, such as the conversion of the castle and the relocation of the marina. The comparison between the two time periods is well-integrated, and the information is accurate based on the provided maps. To reach a higher band, you could ensure that every significant change is highlighted with slightly more detail, such as mentioning the removal of the original car park or the specific expansion of the road network, which would further demonstrate a comprehensive coverage of the data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the specific details of the western, central, and south-eastern areas. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', 'However', and 'Consequently' are used naturally to guide the reader through the changes. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between the information is easy to follow. The structure is coherent and supports the overall purpose of the report well.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a report on map changes, such as 'undergone considerable development', 'disused', 'converted', and 'exclusively reserved'. The language is precise and fits the context of the task well. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation. To move toward a band 9, you could incorporate a few more sophisticated, less common lexical items related to urban planning or geographical change, but the current range is sufficient for a high score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You have used a variety of complex structures, such as passive voice ('have been constructed', 'have been built') and subordinate clauses ('while the marina and fishing boat areas have exchanged locations'). The sentences are almost entirely error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over tense usage—shifting between the past for the 2000 state and present perfect for the changes—is accurate and consistent.

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

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