Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-10
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 plans illustrate the changes that took place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone several significant changes, including the replacement of the castle with a hotel, the addition of a second dock and new facilities. However, some features, such as the main road, passenger ferries and public beach, have remained unchanged.
In 2000, Porth Harbour had a single dock in the northern area, with a public beach and passenger ferry facilities nearby. A marina for private yachts was located in the northwest, next to showers and toilets and a car park. The fishing boats were situated further south, close to another car park. In the southeast, there was a disused castle beside a public beach.
Today, the harbour has a second dock, while the passenger ferry area and northern public beach remain unchanged. The fishing boats and private yacht marina have switched locations, and an additional car park with showers and toilets has been added. Cafes and shops have also been built near the lifeboat. Finally, the disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, and the nearby public beach has become a private beach for hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
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, such as the replacement of the castle and the addition of new infrastructure, while also detailing specific changes like the relocation of the fishing boats and the yacht marina. The comparison between the 2000 layout and the current day is accurate and well-supported by the visual data. You successfully identified both the significant developments and the features that remained unchanged, such as the passenger ferry area. The information is logically selected and presented, ensuring the reader gets a comprehensive summary of the harbour's transformation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is well-structured with a logical progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the introduction, the overview, and the detailed descriptions of the two time periods. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', 'while', and 'Finally' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the chronological changes. The flow between sentences is smooth, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The overall arrangement is coherent, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a high band score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes. Phrases such as 'undergone several significant changes', 'disused castle', and 'switched locations' are used accurately. The vocabulary is precise and fits the context of the task well. While the range is sufficient and allows for flexibility, it could be further enhanced by incorporating slightly more sophisticated collocations or descriptive adjectives to describe the scale of the changes. However, there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication, and the language used is natural and fits the academic tone required.
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 'In 2000, Porth Harbour had a single dock in the northern area, with a public beach and passenger ferry facilities nearby.' The use of passive voice ('have been added', 'have been built') is appropriate for this type of task. Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a high level of control. The structures used are varied enough to convey the information clearly and effectively.
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