Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-20

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 have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.

Overall, the harbour has been considerably modernised, with several facilities added for tourists, while some original features, such as the fishing area and castle, have been replaced or changed. The area has become more focused on leisure and tourism.

In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained two car parks, showers and toilets, a marina for private yachts, and a separate area for fishing boats. To the north-east, there was a dock and a passenger ferry service, while a public beach was located further north. A lifeboat station was situated near the road in the southern part of the harbour, and a castle was found on the south-eastern side.

Today, the harbour has undergone several developments. The fishing boats area has been moved to the north-west, where new showers and toilets have been built, while the previous fishing boat area has been converted into a larger marina for private yachts. In addition, cafés and shops have been constructed along the road near the lifeboat station, providing more facilities for visitors.

Another major change is that the castle in the south-east has been removed and replaced by a hotel. The southern beach area has also become private rather than public. However, the dock, passenger ferries, lifeboat station, main road, and northern public beach have remained largely unchanged. Overall, Porth Harbour has developed from a mainly fishing and transport-based harbour into a more tourist-oriented destination

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the changes shown in the two maps of Porth Harbour. A well-selected overview is presented in the second paragraph, highlighting the general modernization, shift toward leisure and tourism, and the replacement of certain original features. Key spatial and functional transformations—such as the swapping of the fishing area and the marina, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel—are accurately reported and contrasted. The response covers all significant developments without any major omissions or misinterpretations of the visual data, fully satisfying the requirements for a Band 8 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression from introduction to overview, details of the past, details of the present, and a concluding summary. Information is grouped logically by time period and geographical focus. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', 'In addition', and 'Another major change' are used effectively to guide the reader through the comparisons. Paragraphing is fully appropriate, with each paragraph serving a distinct and logical function in structuring the report. The cohesion is natural and unobtrusive, supporting a smooth flow of information throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student utilizes a wide, flexible, and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for an Academic Task 1 report. Items such as 'modernised', 'relocated', 'constructed', 'converted', and 'tourist-oriented destination' demonstrate a strong lexical command. Collocations and word choices are generally accurate and natural (e.g., 'passenger ferry service', 'lifeboat station'). Although there are no exceptionally rare idiomatic expressions, the vocabulary is more than sufficient for flexibility and precision, containing only occasional minor items that could be enhanced, easily fitting the Band 7 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student displays a strong command of grammatical structures, successfully blending simple and complex sentences. Accurate use of passive voice ('has been considerably modernised', 'have been built', 'has been removed') and subordinate clauses ('while the previous fishing boat area has been converted...') enhances the report. The vast majority of sentences are error-free, with excellent control over punctuation and tense consistency (past simple for 2000, present perfect and present simple for current features). Only very occasional minor slips might occur, reflecting solid Band 8 performance.

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