Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-13
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 plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone considerable development, with several new facilities being introduced and some existing areas being replaced or relocated. The most notable changes are the construction of a hotel, cafés and shops, as well as the conversion of a public beach into a private beach. However, some features, such as the main road, passenger ferries, lifeboat and northern public beach, have remained unchanged.
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained a car park, showers and toilets, a marina for private yachts and an area for fishing boats. Today, the positions of the marina and fishing boats have been exchanged. In addition, another showers-and-toilets facility has been added near the second car park. The central area has also been developed, with cafés and shops now located close to the lifeboat station. The dock and passenger-ferry area in the north-east have remained largely unchanged.
The most significant changes have occurred in the south-east. The disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, while the nearby public beach has become a private beach for hotel guests. A new road has also been constructed to provide access to the hotel. Meanwhile, the lifeboat and the road around the harbour have remained in their original positions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and detailed comparisons between the two time periods. The main features are accurately reported and contrasted, such as the transformation of the disused castle into a hotel, the conversion of the public beach, and the shifting positions of the marina and fishing boats. The overview effectively summarises the overarching developments. The ideas are well selected and supported with specific references to the visual data. The response meets all the requirements of Task Achievement at a high level, earning a band score of 8.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response is logically organised, with a clear progression from the introductory statement to an overall summary, followed by a breakdown of the western and central areas, and finally the south-eastern developments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct geographical areas and thematic points. Cohesive devices are managed skilfully and naturally throughout the text, such as 'Overall', 'However', 'In addition', and 'Meanwhile'. Referencing is clear and unambiguous, contributing to the overall smooth flow of information. This performance aligns comfortably with the descriptors for Band 8.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide, flexible, and accurate range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and spatial changes. Less common items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'considerable development', 'conversion', 'disused castle', and 'remain largely unchanged'. Word choices and collocations are generally precise, with only occasional minor lapses. The lexical range allows for clear and fluent expression of complex spatial relationships and transformations, successfully meeting the criteria for a band score of 8.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The response exhibits a wide range of sentence structures, combining smooth simple statements with complex sentences containing participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'with several new facilities being introduced and some existing areas being replaced or relocated'). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, demonstrating excellent control over grammar, tense consistency (past and present), and punctuation. Only very occasional minor slips might occur, but grammar and punctuation never impede communication. This solid command of grammar easily warrants a band score of 8.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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