Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22
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)
The map illustrates a comparision of current Porth Harbour and proposed plan in 2000.
Overall, Porth Harbour in 2000 will be transforming significantly. The southeast commercialized area will be transformed into secluded area. Insfrastructure will get reduced making it less crowded than present.
In present, on the Northwest side a main road extends towards two car park area and have showers and toilets on the either sides. Towards the northwest, there is a fishing boats Two docks and three passenger ferries near a public beach is in the northeast area. On the southern part, a small road is extended from the main road and the roads from the right will provide access to cafes and shops, and lifeboat, while the road dividing to left is to access the hotel with private beach.
The proposed plan in 2000, The porth harbour will reduce one showers and toilet in the southwest area. The fishing boats in the northwest will be replacing the marina ( private yachts) in the southwest and marina ( private yachts will be located in the northwest. In the North two docks will be reduced to one and one passenger ferris will be deducted.
The southern area will be transformed significantly, hotel will be converted into castle ( disused), private beach will be made accessible to the public. A single road will extend from the main road, allowing access to lifeboat where cafes and shops will be removed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response attempts to compare the two maps, but it suffers from severe confusion regarding the temporal relationship and basic facts of the diagrams. The student refers to 'Porth Harbour in 2000 and proposed plan in 2000' and confuses the past layout with the present layout (e.g., stating 'The southern area will be transformed significantly, hotel will be converted into castle ( disused)'). The overview is vague and inaccurate, suggesting the infrastructure will get reduced. While some features are identified, the misinterpretation of the visual data significantly impacts task fulfillment. This performance aligns with Band 4.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is hindered by frequent confusion and poor referencing. Transition markers are basic or misused (e.g., 'In present', 'The proposed plan in 2000'). Cohesive devices within sentences are sometimes awkward or missing, making it difficult to follow the spatial comparisons between the two time periods. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion breaks down due to contradictory statements. This corresponds to a Band 5.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is repetitive and basic, with noticeable word choice and collocation errors (e.g., 'comparision', 'Insfrastructure', 'deducted', 'ferris'). The student attempts some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'marina', 'lifeboat', and 'passenger ferries', but inaccuracies in spelling and terminology limit the precision of the descriptions. Vocabulary control is limited, placing this firmly in the Band 5 category.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
The text contains a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences frequently result in grammatical errors. Examples of errors include subject-verb agreement issues ('a main road extends... and have showers') and incorrect prepositional phrases ('on the either sides'). Punctuation and tense usage are also erratic, shifting inappropriately between descriptions of past and present states. These frequent errors impede smooth reading, reflecting Band 4.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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