Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-16

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 diagram illustrates the plans below a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today. Overall, the harbour has seen many changes from the past to today.

Major changes are castle converted into a hotel and

Port harbour ( in 2000) the major change on the east side of the harbour plan was the castle, which was disused in this area; that's why it is now converted into a hotel. Now it's a busy area.However in the lifeboart area in past west side place was empaty now it is change into the cafes and shops. In addition

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.5

You identify two relevant changes: the disused castle becoming a hotel and cafés and shops appearing near the lifeboat station. However, the response is far too incomplete to summarise the plans: it stops mid-sentence at “In addition” and omits major changes such as the marina and fishing boats exchanging locations, the added facilities, and the hotel beach becoming private. The overview, “the harbour has seen many changes,” is too general to convey the main pattern. The response is also below the required 150 words: it contains 88 words, with 9 words copied from the prompt excluded from the count. Develop a clear overview and report several key changes with accurate locations and comparisons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response, beginning with an introduction and a general overview before moving to specific changes. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “However,” and “In addition” show an effort to connect ideas. However, the progression is difficult to follow because the description shifts abruptly from the castle to the lifeboat area, and the final “In addition” is left unfinished. The separate fragment “Major changes are castle converted into a hotel and” also interrupts the flow rather than introducing a complete point. Use clear paragraphs for the overview and the main comparisons, and ensure each sentence is complete and logically connected to the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some task-relevant vocabulary, including “harbour,” “castle,” “hotel,” “lifeboat,” and “cafes and shops,” so the reader can identify the places being discussed. There is also an attempt to describe change with “converted into.” However, the range is limited, and several choices or spellings reduce clarity, such as “plans below a harbour,” “lifeboart,” “empaty,” and “busy area,” which is vague and not clearly supported by the map. Aim for precise map language and accurate spelling, using terms such as “located,” “replaced,” “relocated,” and “on the southern side.” Avoid informal or imprecise descriptions when reporting changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt some sentence variety, including a relative clause in “the castle, which was disused,” and a contrast introduced by “However.” Nevertheless, grammatical control is inconsistent, and several sentences are incomplete or awkwardly formed. “Major changes are castle converted into a hotel and” lacks the structure needed to complete the comparison, while “the harbour has seen many changes from the past to today” uses an unclear time construction. The sentence beginning “However in the lifeboart area” also has an unclear subject and word order, making the relationship between past and present difficult to understand. Practise complete comparative sentences, consistent past-to-present forms, and punctuation around linking words.

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