Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30
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 plans illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has been considerably modernised, with several facilities added for tourists, while some original features, such as the fishing area and castle, have been replaced or changed. The area has become more focused on leisure and tourism.
In 2000, the western side of the harbour contained two car parks, showers and toilets, a marina for private yachts, and a separate area for fishing boats. To the north-east, there was a dock and a passenger ferry service, while a public beach was located further north. A lifeboat station was situated near the road in the southern part of the harbour, and a castle was found on the south-eastern side.
Today, the harbour has undergone several developments. The fishing boat area has been moved to the north-west, where new showers and toilets have been built, while the previous fishing boat area has been converted into a larger marina for private yachts. In addition, cafés and shops have been constructed along the road near the lifeboat station, providing more facilities for visitors.
Another major change is that the castle in the south-east has been removed and replaced by a hotel. The southern beach area has also become private rather than public. However, the dock, passenger ferries, lifeboat station, main road, and northern public beach have remained largely unchanged. Overall, Porth Harbour has developed from a mainly fishing and transport-based harbour into a more commercial destination.
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 student has successfully covered all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features and making relevant comparisons between the two plans of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today. An effective overview is included in the second paragraph, highlighting the modernisation and shift towards tourism. Key changes, such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boat area, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, are accurately reported without extraneous detail. The response is fully developed and well-grounded in the provided visual data, meeting all criteria for a high band score.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to overview, body paragraphs detailing the past and present layouts, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'In 2000', 'Today', 'In addition', and 'Another major change' are used effectively to guide the reader through the spatial and temporal comparisons. Paragraphing is logical, with each paragraph serving a distinct function in structuring the comparison. Referencing is clear throughout, and information flows smoothly without mechanical sounding transitions.
Lexical Resource: Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible lexical range appropriate for an academic task 1 response. Vocabulary items such as 'modernised', 'relocated', 'converted', and 'commercial destination' are used accurately and with good stylistic awareness. Collocations are natural, and there are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The use of varied vocabulary to describe changes (e.g., 'removed and replaced', 'have remained largely unchanged') contributes to a fluent and precise description of the maps.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
A wide variety of complex sentence structures is used effectively throughout the text, including participial phrases and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'while the previous fishing boat area has been converted into a larger marina'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, demonstrating a high level of control over grammar and punctuation. Only very occasional minor slips might occur, but these never impede communication or affect the clarity of the comparisons being made.
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