Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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 layouts illustrate a harbour in 2000 and its present outlook.

Overall, the harbour has undergone significant modernized changes. Showers and toilets have been increased while the disused castle has been turned into a hotel.

Firstly, on the western part of the harbour, extra showers and toilets have been set up between the two car parks. Additionally, The fishing boats were moved from the Southern part of the harbour to the Northern part, interchanging with the private yachts. Furthermore, cafes and shops have been added to the central region of the harbour adjacent to the lifeboat which remained intact.

Subsequently, there is an additional dock from the previous one dock near the public beach.Conversely, the disused castle on the south East quadrant has been modeled into a modern hotel, whereas the public beach next to it has been converted to a private beach meant for the hotel users.Lastly, the passenger ferries remained untouched.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour's transformation. You have clearly highlighted key changes, such as the conversion of the castle into a hotel, the relocation of fishing boats, and the addition of new facilities like shops and cafes. The overview provides a concise summary of the overall trend of modernization. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are precise; for instance, you mention an 'additional dock' but could clarify its location relative to the original one more explicitly. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear focus on the significant changes between the two time periods.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that group information by location or type of change. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', 'Furthermore', and 'Conversely' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. The progression of ideas is generally clear, and the use of referencing (e.g., 'the disused castle', 'the passenger ferries') helps maintain the flow of information throughout the description.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'modernized', 'adjacent', 'converted', and 'intact'. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'modeled into' (which should be 'converted into' or 'transformed into') and 'outlook' (which is less precise than 'layout' or 'appearance' in this context). Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly and allows for some flexibility in describing the spatial changes in the harbour.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some grammatical errors, such as 'there is an additional dock from the previous one dock' (which is awkward and redundant) and 'The fishing boats' (unnecessary capitalization), these do not impede communication. You show control over passive voice constructions, which is appropriate for describing changes in a process or plan. To improve, focus on refining sentence structure to avoid redundancy and ensure consistent punctuation and capitalization throughout the text.

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

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