Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-21
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 have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day. Overall, it is clear that the harbour has undergone considerable development, including the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel and the addition of several new facilities.
In 2000, the main facilities for visitors, such as showers, toilets, and car parks, were located on the western side of the harbour, beside the main road. A road connected the main road to the lifeboat station, while a disused castle and a public beach were situated in the southern part of the harbour. In addition, a dock and passenger ferries were located in the central area, while fishing boats and a private marina were positioned further west.
At present, several additional facilities have been introduced. A second set of showers and toilets, as well as another car park, has been added near the main road. The locations of the fishing boats and private marina have also changed. Furthermore, another dock has been constructed beside the existing one, and cafés and shops have been added near the lifeboat station.
In the southern part of the harbour, the disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, and part of the former public beach has become a private beach for hotel guests. A new road has also been constructed to provide access to the hotel.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview of the main changes and selecting key features for comparison. The response effectively highlights major structural developments, such as the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, the introduction of cafés and shops, and the rearrangement of the marina and fishing boats. However, there is a minor spatial misinterpretation in the second paragraph where fishing boats and the private marina in 2000 are described as being positioned further west, whereas the map shows them located centrally and inland. Despite this slight inaccuracy, the overall selection and reporting of information are well-developed and fulfil the requirements of an Academic Task 1 response, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The response demonstrates clear logical organization and progression throughout. The text is divided into logical paragraphs, starting with a concise introduction and overview, moving into a description of the harbour in 2000, detailing the present layout, and concluding with the southern transformations. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 2000', 'At present', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the temporal and spatial changes. Reference words are handled well, ensuring that the relationships between ideas remain transparent and easy to follow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different timeframes and geographic zones, meeting the criteria for a strong Band 8 performance.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The student uses a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task. Terms such as 'considerable development', 'reconstructed', and 'transformations' demonstrate flexibility and precision. Less common lexical items related to maps and geography, like 'disused', 'infrastructure', and 'headland', are used with an awareness of style. There are occasional slight inaccuracies in collocation or word choice, but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout, supporting a solid Band 7 score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The writing exhibits a good variety of complex sentence structures, including relative clauses and passive constructions (e.g., 'has been constructed', 'where fishing boats and a private marina were positioned'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control of punctuation and tense consistency, switching appropriately between the past simple for 2000 and the present perfect for current changes. Only very occasional minor slips occur, easily placing this response in the Band 8 category for grammatical range and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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