Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-02

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 plans compare Porth Harbour in 2000 with its present-day appearance.

Overall, the harbour has been substantially redeveloped for tourism. The main changes include relocating the marina and fishing boats, adding cafés, shops and a hotel, and making the public beach private. The dock and passenger-ferry area have remained.

In 2000, fishing boats were in the north-west, beside showers, toilets and a car park. The private-yacht marina was further east, while the dock and passenger-ferry area were central. A lifeboat station stood on the southern side near the road, and a disused castle occupied the eastern peninsula.

Today, fishing boats have moved to the marina's former location, while the private-yacht marina is in the south-west. A second car park and showers have been added. Cafés and shops now stand beside the marina. The castle has been replaced by a hotel, while the beach is now private for hotel guests. In conclusion, it is overall for the betterment in tourism.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively covers all key features of the harbour's transformation. You have successfully identified the main changes, such as the relocation of the marina and the addition of tourist facilities. The overview provides a clear summary of the trends, and the comparison between the two time periods is logical. You have accurately highlighted the shift from a functional fishing harbour to a more tourism-oriented site. To reach a higher band, ensure that all minor details are fully integrated into the comparative narrative rather than just listing them, and avoid subjective commentary like 'betterment', which is not appropriate for an objective report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from a general overview to specific details of the 2000 layout and then the current state. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', and 'while' are used effectively to guide the reader through the changes. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed analysis. The flow is smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'substantially redeveloped', 'relocating', and 'occupied'. The terminology is generally accurate and appropriate for a report on spatial changes. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it lacks a degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. The final sentence contains a slight misuse of 'betterment', which is a minor stylistic error. Overall, the range is adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have used a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'The private-yacht marina was further east, while the dock and passenger-ferry area were central.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and there are very few errors. The sentences are clear and easy to read. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as passive voice constructions or participle clauses, to describe the changes more dynamically.

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

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