Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-17

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 7.0)

The two plans illustrate the changes that took place in the harbour between 2000 and the present day.

Overall, the harbour has undergone several significant changes, including the addition of new facilities and the conversion of some existing areas. The most noticeable changes are the transformation of the public beach into a private beach, the development of a hotel and the rearrangement of the areas for yachts and fishing boats.

In 2000, the harbour had relatively basic facilities. The public beach in the south has now been converted into a private beach. In addition, a café and shops have been added next to the lifeboat station, near the road crossing. The showers and toilets and the car parks in the west have remained unchanged. However, the marina for private yachts in the north has been converted into an area for fishing boats, while the former fishing-boat area has been transformed into a marina for private yachts. Furthermore, the number of ferry berths has increased compared with 2000.

Another major change is that the disused castle has been converted into a hotel, with a separate pathway leading to it. New showers and toilets have also been added on the western side of the harbour.

Overall, the harbour has become more developed, with several new facilities and changes to the use of existing areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student covers all key parts of the task well, providing a clear summary of the main changes shown in the two plans of Porth Harbour. The response successfully highlights the most significant transformations, such as the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel, the shifting locations of the marina and fishing boats, and the change from public to private beach on the southern side. An effective overview is present in both the introduction and conclusion, capturing the overall development of the harbour. The comparisons made between the year 2000 and the present day are accurate and grounded directly in the visual data. The ideas are well-developed and fulfil all requirements of Academic Task 1, earning a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly into paragraphs, moving from an introductory overview to specific spatial and structural changes, and finishing with a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'Another major change' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing between sentences is clear. While cohesion is generally natural, slightly more variety in advanced linking structures could elevate the text further, but overall the progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision, suitable for an Academic Task 1 response. Less common items and topic-specific vocabulary such as 'transformation', 'relocated' (implicitly used via converted/rearranged), 'disused', and 'facilities' are employed appropriately. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate, as seen in phrases like 'undergone several significant changes' and 'rearrangement of the areas'. There are occasional minor repetitive patterns in phrasing, but these do not impede communication, and the overall lexical control supports a solid band 7 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

A good variety of complex sentence structures is used throughout the response, incorporating subordinate clauses and passive constructions effectively (e.g., 'has undergone several significant changes, including...', 'the marina for private yachts in the north has been converted into...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the student demonstrates reliable control of grammar and punctuation. There are only very occasional minor awkwardnesses, but grammatical accuracy is high and never obscures meaning. This level of syntactic flexibility and control fully satisfies the criteria for a band 7.5.

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

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