Porth Harbour in 2000 and Today Map

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.

Cambridge IELTS 19 Academic Test 2 Writing Task 1 visual

Annotated response

10 correction notes

The two maps illustrate the changes that have taken place in Porth Harbour between 2000 and the present day.

From an overall perspective, it is evident that the harbour has undergone significant transformations . is the expansion of ferry docking facilities in the northeastern section.

To begin with, the locations of the fishing boat and private yacht docking areas have been swapped . In 2000, fishing boats were moored in the northwest and private yachts in the southwest; however, these have now been relocated to the . Furthermore, the in the southwest has seen improved access, now directly connected to the main road, replacing the former minor road leading to the lifeboat station. Adjacent to this , a second block of showers and toilets has been added to .

Significant development has also occurred on the eastern side of the harbour.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 6.5

The response opens well, with a clear purpose, an overview, and generally controlled, varied language. However, it stops abruptly mid-sentence, and several location details (such as which sides the fishing boats and marina occupied in 2000) contradict the maps, while later changes like the hotel, cafés and shops, and the beach conversion are absent.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

5.0

The response presents an overview and attempts key comparisons, but several details are inaccurate against the maps (e.g., the 2000 positions of fishing boats and yachts, and the claimed southwestern road change), major developments such as the hotel, cafés and shops, and the beach conversion are omitted, and the account ends mid-sentence, leaving the task only partially covered.

Coherence and Cohesion

6.0

Progression is broadly logical with clear sequencing devices and paragraphing, though the abrupt unfinished ending and a slight misattribution of the road change weaken the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is flexible and reasonably precise for a maps task, with terms like 'undergone significant transformations', 'moored', and 'relocated' showing good resource, with only minor imprecision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A good range of structures is used with strong control, including complex sentences with 'however' and 'now directly connected', and errors are rare and non-impeding.

More responses with feedback

View all 2 responses (6.5–7.0)