Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-01

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 the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour from the past to the present day.

Overall, it is clear that the harbour has been considerably developed. Several new facilities have been added, including cafés shops, showers and toilets, while the castle has been replaced by a hotel. In addition, the locations of some boats and beaches have changed.

In the past, there was a public beach in the south-east of the harbour, next to the disused castle. However, this area has now been changed into a private beach, and the old castle has been replaced by a hotel. A new public beach has also been created in the north-east of the harbour.

On the western side, the car parks have remained in similar locations, although a new shower and toilet block has been added near the lower car park. The former marina for private yachts has been moved to a different position, while the area previously used for fishing boats is now the marina for private yachts. The fishing boats have been relocated to the area near the upper car park.

There have also been changes around the dock. The dock and passenger ferry facilities remain in the central part of the harbour, but additional space has been provided for boats. Finally, cafes and shops have been constructed beside the road, close to the lifeboat station.

In conclusion, Porth Harbour has changed from a simple harbour into a more developed area with better facilities for visitors and local people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively addresses all requirements of the task. You have provided a clear overview of the main trends, noting the significant development of the harbour and the addition of new facilities. The body paragraphs are well-structured, logically grouping the changes by location (e.g., the beach area, the western side, and the dock). You have successfully identified and reported the key features, such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the relocation of the boat facilities. The comparisons between the past and present are accurate and easy to follow, demonstrating a clear understanding of the visual data provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, which helps the reader navigate the information easily. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'However', 'On the western side', and 'Finally', to link sentences and paragraphs. The referencing is clear, and the overall structure is coherent from the introduction to the conclusion. The use of paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is smooth throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes accurately. Words and phrases like 'considerably developed', 'relocated', 'constructed', and 'disused' demonstrate a good level of precision. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for the context, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. For instance, instead of 'changed into', you could use 'transformed into' or 'converted into'. Overall, the lexical range is more than adequate for the task and supports clear communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response displays a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The former marina for private yachts has been moved to a different position, while the area previously used for fishing boats is now the marina for private yachts.' The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and verb tenses is consistent. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could experiment with more varied sentence structures, such as using passive voice constructions more frequently to describe the changes.

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