Cambridge IELTS 19 · Test 2 · Task 1 · Task 1

Porth Harbour

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.

The two plans compare Porth Harbour as it was in 2000 with its present-day layout, revealing that the

area has been substantially developed to serve tourists, with new amenities and a hotel replacing the

old castle.

The most significant change is on the right-hand side, where the disused castle has been converted

into a hotel. This development has also made the private beach at the bottom of the harbour

exclusive to hotel guests, whereas previously it appears to have been open to everyone. In the centre

of the harbour, a row of cafes and shops has been added, presumably to cater to the increased

number of visitors.

In the western and northern areas, the basic infrastructure has been improved. In 2000 there was a

single set of showers, toilets and a car park near the fishing boats; today these facilities have

been duplicated, with a second set of showers and toilets and an extra car park appearing further

north. The fishing boats themselves have been relocated closer to these new facilities. By contrast,

the marina for private yachts, the dock, the passenger ferries and the lifeboat have been retained,

and the public beach at the top of the plan is unchanged.

Overall, the harbour has clearly been transformed from a working port with minimal facilities into a

tourist destination, adding accommodation, retail outlets and upgraded infrastructure while

preserving its original marine functions.

Both maps are described and compared, and every major change — the hotel, the cafes and shops, the

duplicated facilities, the repositioned fishing boats — is addressed. Relevant comparisons are made

throughout ("whereas previously", "by contrast").

Takeaway: For map tasks, report what is new, what was removed/reused, and what *stayed the

same* — covering all three earns Top Task Response.

Organised by area: the biggest change first (right), then the new central retail, then the north/west

facilities. Clear topic sentences and varied linkers ("The most significant change", "In the

western...", "By contrast", "Overall").

Takeaway: Group changes by location on the map rather than listing them randomly.

Precise and varied: "substantially developed", "converted into", "exclusive to", "cater to",

"repositioned", "retained", "working port". Collocations are academic and accurate.

Takeaway: Learn map-specific verbs — *converted, relocated, expanded, retained, erected,

demolished* — to describe any layout change.

Accurate past vs. present contrast: "there was a single set" vs. "today these facilities have been

duplicated". Passive constructions and complex relative clauses ("an extra car park appearing further

north") are error-free.

Takeaway: Contrast was (past) with has/have been (present result) to handle time in map tasks.