Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-12

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 4.5)

The given two maps illustrates a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Overall, it is clear that porth horbour in past was older in the west side main road on top showers and toilets, on bottom car park, in east on top public beach, in middle passenger ferries, in south on bottom public beach and castle, while today porth harbour is very morden many things add and remove the castle and make hotel.

According to the map, in 2000 porth harbour was anicent in the left side at west located main road, showers and toilets below car park right side marina,car park and fishing boats on bottom. In middle passenger ferries below this lifeboat. In north on the top public beach in water dock. On south in bottom public beach and right castle.

Today porth harbour build and replace many things this is very beautiful. On the west main road north and south one showers and toilet and car park here, near showers fishing boats and bottom marina private yachts. On the righr side public beach in water dock and passenger ferries. on the bottom add cafes and shops private beach for the hotel.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the two time periods and mention several relevant features, including the marina, fishing boats, beaches, castle and hotel. However, the comparison is only partial and some locations are misreported or unclear: for example, the public beach is not “in the north on the top” of the harbour, and the passenger ferries are not described as being in the middle. The key changes—the marina and fishing boats exchanging areas, the extra jetty and boats, and cafés and shops being added—are mostly missing. The overview also focuses on the harbour being “older” or “very modern” rather than summarising its main physical changes. Select the most significant changes and describe their locations accurately to make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic overall structure, with an introduction, an overview and separate paragraphs for 2000 and today. This gives the reader some sense of the time sequence. However, progression within the paragraphs is difficult to follow because locations are listed in a confusing order and several phrases are incomplete, such as “in the middle passenger ferries below this lifeboat.” Linking is limited, and repeated use of “on the top,” “on the bottom” and “in the west” does not clearly connect related changes across the maps. Organise each period from north to south or group features by change, and use clear comparisons such as “whereas” and “by contrast” to guide the reader.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “marina,” “passenger ferries,” “public beach” and “private beach,” so the reader can recognise several map features. However, the range is limited and some word choices are inaccurate or informal for a map report. Calling the harbour “ancient” or “very beautiful” does not describe a specific mapped feature, while “many things add and remove” is imprecise. Spelling errors such as “horbour,” “morden” and “righr” also reduce clarity. Build a more precise set of verbs for map changes—such as “relocated,” “replaced,” “added” and “retained”—and use accurate names for locations and facilities.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts an overview and uses some longer sentences, but sentence structures are often incomplete or difficult to interpret. For example, “in past was older in the west side main road” lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the harbour and the listed features, and “Today porth harbour build and replace many things” has an incorrect verb form. There are also recurring problems with articles, agreement and punctuation, as in “The given two maps illustrates” and the run-on lists separated only by commas. Use complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, check singular/plural agreement, and separate map details into shorter, correctly punctuated clauses.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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