Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)
The two plans illustrate the changes that have taken place at Port Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone considerable redevelopment, with several facilities being added or relocated. The most notable changes are the conversion of the former fishing-boat area into a larger marina, the construction of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel. The public beach has also been converted into a private beach for hotel guests.
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained a marina for private yachts, while a separate area to its south was used by fishing boats. There were two car parks along Main Road, as well as showers and toilets. To the north-east, a dock was used by passenger ferries, and a public beach occupied the eastern shoreline. A lifeboat station was located on the southern side of the harbour, while a disused castle stood on the peninsula.
Today, the former fishing-boat area has been converted into a larger marina for private yachts, and additional showers and toilets have been provided nearby. The original marina has effectively been replaced by a fishing-boat area. The dock and passenger-ferry facilities remain in the northern part of the harbour, although the dock has been extended or rearranged. In the south, cafés and shops have been constructed beside the lifeboat station. Finally, the disused castle has been replaced by a hotel, and the adjacent public beach is now a private beach reserved for hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully satisfies the requirements of Task 1. The candidate covers all parts of the visual data well by presenting a clear overview of the major transformations at Port Harbour between 2000 and today. Key features—such as the swap in locations between the marina and fishing boats, the addition of cafés and shops, and the conversion of the disused castle and public beach into a hotel and private beach respectively—are accurately reported and contrasted. The information is well selected, and no significant inaccuracies or omissions are present. The comparison between the two time periods is clear and directly addresses the prompt instructions.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The text demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped sensibly into an introduction, an overview paragraph, a detailed body paragraph describing the 2000 layout, and a final body paragraph detailing current changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In 2000', 'Today', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the spatial and temporal shifts without mechanical repetition. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing (e.g., 'the former fishing-boat area', 'The original marina') is managed skillfully to maintain cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The candidate displays a wide and natural lexical resource suitable for an academic description. Less common lexical items and precise collocations are used effectively, such as 'considerable redevelopment', 'relocated', 'conversion', 'peninsula', and 'reserved for hotel guests'. Word choice is accurate, and vocabulary use flows naturally, demonstrating flexible control over topic-specific terminology without noticeable awkwardness or strain.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
A wide variety of complex sentence structures is employed successfully throughout the essay, including passive constructions ('has undergone considerable redevelopment', 'have been provided nearby') and subordinate clauses ('while a separate area to its south was used by fishing boats'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and control over grammar and punctuation is consistently strong. Any minor errors are absent, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy.
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