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 two maps illustrate the modifications that took place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.
Overall, the harbour has expanded and become more commercial. New amenities have been added, the fishing area and marina have been rearranged, and the disused castle has been converted into a hotel.
In 2000, the main road was on the eastern side and split into two branches. Notably, the first one was connected to a car park, showers and toilets, as well as a marina for private yachts and an area for fishing boats. The second car park was located in the south. To the east, there was a dock, a passenger ferry terminal and a lifeboat station, while the road led to a disused castle. Finally, there were public beaches in the south and east.
Today, the northern area continues to function as a port, with the addition of a new dock beside the old one. The fishing boats have been moved to the north, where the marina used to be, while the marina has been relocated further south. A new set of showers, toilets and a car park has been introduced. The dock has been enlarged with an extra pier, and a row of cafés and shops has been built next to the lifeboat station. The most striking change is that the disused castle has been converted into a hotel, and the southern public beaches have been converted into private beaches for the hotel. The northern public beach has remained unchanged.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 8.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5
The candidate has effectively addressed all parts of the task by providing a clear summary of the main features and making relevant comparisons between the two maps. An appropriate and clear overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the key developments such as the expansion, commercialisation, and conversion of the castle into a hotel. Specific details regarding the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of a new dock, cafés and shops, and the change in beach status are accurately reported. The information is fully grounded in the visual data, and no significant features are omitted.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5
The response is logically organised with a clear progression from the introduction to the overview, followed by the description of the harbour in 2000, and finally its current state today. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph serving a distinct function. Cohesive devices such as 'Notably', 'while', 'Today', and 'The most striking change' are used effectively to guide the reader through the spatial and temporal changes without being obtrusive. Referencing is consistently clear throughout.
Lexical Resource: Band 8.0
The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task describing spatial changes. Less common lexical items and collocations are used skilfully, such as 'modifications', 'commercial', 'rearranged', 'converted', 'relocated', and 'striking change'. Word choice is generally precise, and there are no notable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. The vocabulary allows for a fluent and natural description of the diagrams.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5
The response displays a wide range of sentence structures, combining complex and compound sentences with excellent control. Examples include relative clauses ('where the marina used to be') and participial phrases ('with the addition of a new dock beside the old one'). The majority of sentences are completely error-free, and grammar and punctuation are handled with high accuracy. Tense usage is appropriate, shifting smoothly between the past tense for the 2000 map and the present tense for the current layout.
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