Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 a harbour looked in 2000 and how it appears today.

Overall, it is clear that the harbour has undergone significant changes. The most noticeable developments were the replacement of the castle with a hotel, the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, and the addition of cafes and shops. Meanwhile, the lifeboat station, passenger ferries, and the dock have remained largely unchanged.

Looking first at the western part of the harbour, the marina for private yachts, which was located in the upper-left section in 2000, was relocated to the lower-left area. In addition, a second shower and toilet facility was added next to the new marina. However, the two car parks remained in the same general location.

Turning to the southern and eastern parts of the harbour, the castle was demolished and converted into a hotel. Furthermore, cafes and shops were installed beside the road, close to the new marina. Another notable change is that a public beach has now become a private beach. Meanwhile, the passenger ferries, lifeboat station, and northern public beach remained unchanged.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers all key features of the harbour maps. You have successfully identified the main changes, such as the replacement of the castle with a hotel and the relocation of the marina, while also noting the elements that remained unchanged. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the trends. The information is well-selected and logically grouped by location (western, southern, and eastern parts), which helps the reader follow the changes easily. The response fully satisfies the requirements of the task by providing a clear, comparative summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear structure. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction and overview to specific geographical sections. Cohesive devices such as 'Meanwhile', 'In addition', 'Turning to', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. The progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is appropriate for a report of this nature. There is a consistent flow throughout the text, and the use of referencing is clear and accurate.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes accurately, such as 'undergone significant changes', 'demolished', 'converted', and 'relocated'. The terminology is precise and appropriate for describing maps and spatial changes. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it could be slightly more sophisticated to reach the highest band; for example, using more varied synonyms for 'remained unchanged' or 'added' would enhance the lexical variety. However, the current range is more than adequate for the task.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The marina for private yachts, which was located in the upper-left section in 2000, was relocated to the lower-left area.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are very few errors. The sentence construction is generally error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the report. The writing is clear and easy to follow.

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

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