Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07
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 layouts illustrate how a harbour looked in 2000 and how it looks in the present day.
Overall, the Porth Harbour underwent significant redevelopment, with new facilities being introduced, existing facilities being replaced or relocated.
Regarding the first layout in 2000, a dock was located in the north, with a boat and an area designated for passenger ferries, whereas showers and toilets, a marina, and a car park were located more towards the northwestern area. Furthermore, fishing boats and a second car park were situated in the southwestern area, while a lifeboat, a public beach and a castle were situated in the southeastern area.
Turning to the present layout of the Porth Harbour, another boat was introduced to the dock other than that, it remained unchanged, while the marina in the northwestern area was replaced with fishing boats. Furthermore, the marina was relocated to the southwestern area, where showers and toilets were introduced, whereas cafes and shops were added to the southern area. By contrast, the castle was replaced with a hotel, and the public beach was transformed into a private beach for the hotel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response successfully identifies the main features of the harbour in both 2000 and the present day. You have provided a clear overview and highlighted key changes, such as the relocation of the marina and the introduction of new facilities like the hotel and cafes. The information is accurate and well-selected. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are fully developed; for instance, you mention the dock remained 'unchanged' except for an additional boat, but you could have more explicitly contrasted the specific types of boats present in both periods to provide a more comprehensive summary of the transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow a chronological and spatial progression. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Regarding', 'Furthermore', and 'By contrast', which helps the reader follow the comparison between the two time periods. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial state from the subsequent changes. The flow of information is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, making the response easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, using terms like 'redevelopment', 'relocated', 'designated', and 'transformed'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To improve, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or synonyms to describe the scale of change, such as 'underwent a complete overhaul' or 'the area was repurposed', which would elevate the lexical sophistication of the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You demonstrate good control over grammar and punctuation, with the majority of sentences being error-free. There is a minor punctuation issue in the second paragraph ('...being introduced, existing facilities being replaced...'), where a conjunction like 'and' would have been more appropriate. However, these are minor slips that do not affect the clarity of your writing. Your use of passive voice is well-suited to describing the changes in the harbour layout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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