Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27
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 maps illustrate the changes that took place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has undergone several significant changes, including the addition of cafés and shops, an extra shower and toilet facility, and a hotel with a private beach. However, the passenger ferry, dock and lifeboat have remained in the same locations.
Looking first at the northern part of the harbour, there was one shower and toilet facility and two car parks in 2000. Today, another shower and toilet facility has been added near the southern car park. In addition, the locations of the fishing boats and the private-yacht marina have been switched. Previously, the marina was situated in the central part of the harbour, while the fishing boats were located further south. Today, fishing boats occupy the former marina area, while the private-yacht marina is located further south.
Turning to the southern part of the harbour, cafés and shops have been added beside the road. The disused castle has also been converted into a hotel, and a private beach has been created for hotel guests. Furthermore, the road has been extended towards the hotel, providing access to it. Meanwhile, the passenger ferry, dock and lifeboat have remained in their original locations.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The student has successfully addressed all parts of the task by identifying and reporting the main features of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. The overview clearly highlights the major transformations, such as the additions of cafés, shops, and a hotel with a private beach, while noting key continuities like the passenger ferry, dock, and lifeboat. Specific details regarding the swapping of the marina and fishing boats, as well as the new shower and toilet facility, are accurately presented and supported with precise directional language. The response meets all the requirements for a well-rounded Task 1 performance, demonstrating a fully developed and accurate interpretation of the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression. It begins with an effective introductory sentence and a concise overview paragraph. The body paragraphs are logically divided into geographical sections ('the northern part of the harbour' and 'the southern part of the harbour'), making it easy for the reader to follow the spatial changes. Cohesive devices such as 'Looking first at', 'In addition', 'Turning to', and 'Meanwhile' are used appropriately and naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively to separate distinct areas of the map.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.5
The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to a map comparison task. Less common lexical items and phrases such as 'undergone several significant changes', 'switched', 'converted into', and 'original locations' are integrated naturally and accurately. Collocations are generally strong, with only minor repetitiveness in sentence structures regarding location descriptions. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, supporting smooth and clear communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The writing features a good variety of complex structures alongside accurate simple sentences. The student demonstrates good control over tense usage, appropriately contrasting the past simple tense for the 2000 map ('was situated', 'were located') with present tenses for current features ('occupy', 'have been added'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries are well-managed, and the majority of sentences are error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical accuracy.
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