Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-16
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 4.5)
harbour in 2000 is little bit different from today harbour in 2000 there is no cafes and shops today we see there cafes and shops, we see hotel today near beach in 2000 there is a castle and there is no road to the castle but today we see a road to the hotel also a beach near hotel is only for the hotel not a public beach today in 2000 we marina(private yachts) and public toilets near main road but today it changed and transfer to the other side near car park and fishing boat area to the marina (private yachts) also 2 dock are added today harbour which makes the boat easy to depart or arrive to many thing changed today but some places remain same from the 2000 today harbour are looks so great for the daily operations of arrival passenger and depart for the boats also shops are plus point there
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response attempts to compare the two maps of Porth Harbour, noting key changes such as the addition of cafés and shops, the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, and the swapping of locations for the marina and fishing boats. However, the candidate fails to provide a clear, overall summary or introduction, plunging directly into specific details. Furthermore, the organisation of these points lacks clarity, and several details are underdeveloped or expressed vaguely, such as the mention of docks. Consequently, the response addresses the task only partially, fulfilling the criteria for a band 5.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The text suffers from severe issues with cohesion and paragraphing. The entire response consists of one long, run-on sentence without proper punctuation, capitalization, or paragraph breaks. Cohesive devices are largely absent or misused, relying on repetitive phrases like 'today we see' and 'in 2000' to link ideas clumsily. There is no clear overall progression, making the text difficult to follow. These features reflect the characteristics of a band 4.0, as information and ideas are not arranged coherently.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on words directly copied from the prompt such as 'cafes and shops', 'hotel', 'beach', and 'marina'. There are numerous lexical limitations and imprecise word choices, such as 'transfer' instead of 'transferred' and 'today harbour are looks so great'. The range of vocabulary is inadequate for a higher band, causing noticeable strain for the reader. This performance aligns with a band 4.0 descriptor, where basic and repetitive vocabulary is prevalent.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
Grammatically, the response is extremely weak. It lacks basic punctuation, resulting in run-on sentences containing multiple clauses joined incorrectly or without conjunctions. There is a very limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at description are hindered by frequent errors in verb tense and agreement, such as 'there is no cafes', 'today we marina', and '2 dock are added today harbour'. These errors frequently distort meaning and cause difficulty for the reader, placing the response squarely at band 4.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.