Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)
The maps illustrate the structural developments that have taken place in Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day.
Overall, Porth Harbour has undergone significant commercialization and modernization. The facility has expanded its leisure and hospitality sector, notably through the conversion of historical ruins into accommodation and the addition of retail amenities.
In the western sector, the locations of the private marina and fishing boat docks have been swapped. The fishing boats now occupy the northern basin, while private yachts berth in the southern area. To support this restructured layout, a second showers and toilets block has been built alongside the southern car park.
In the central and eastern regions, major commercial upgrades have occurred. An additional dock arm has been extended from the northern pier to accommodate more vessels. Furthermore, a series of cafes and shops have been erected along the road leading to the lifeboat station. Finally, the disused castle on the eastern peninsula has been transformed into a hotel, and the nearby southern beach has been converted from a public area into a private beach reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 8.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5
The response fully addresses all parts of the task by successfully summarizing the main changes between the two maps of Porth Harbour. The overview clearly highlights the overarching trend of commercialization and modernization. Key details, such as the swapping of the marina and fishing boat locations, the expansion of the northern dock, the addition of cafes and shops, and the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel with an adjacent private beach, are accurately reported and well-supported with specific spatial references. There are no notable omissions or factual errors according to the visual data. The student successfully satisfies the requirements for Task Achievement at a very high standard.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0
The response is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to overview, followed by well-sequenced body paragraphs detailing the western sector and the central/eastern regions. Paragraphing is used appropriately to group related spatial features. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'In the western sector', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are utilized flexibly and naturally without being mechanical. Referencing and substitution are handled smoothly, ensuring that the relationships between the various developments and their locations remain transparent and easy to follow throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical range appropriate for an academic task. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully, such as 'structural developments', 'commercialization and modernization', 'accommodation', and 'exclusively'. Word choice and collocations are generally precise, with phrases like 'swapped', 'occupy', and 'transformed into' fitting the context naturally. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice inaccuracies, reflecting a strong command of vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences with participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'notably through the conversion of historical ruins into accommodation and the addition of retail amenities'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is managed with precision. Control over tense usage is excellent, accurately combining the present tense for current states with passive constructions to describe ongoing or completed modifications to the harbour. Grammatical accuracy is maintained consistently throughout.
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