User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 7.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

201 words AcademicTask 1Map

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

Summarise the overall pattern: the village grew substantially between 1868 and 1994.
Compare the stages of expansion: early development was limited, followed by growth around the centre and later in several outlying areas.
Mention transport changes accurately: the railway was built in 1909 and the motorway in 1970; the park and golf course remained a prominent mapped feature.

Suggested structure

Introduce the map, location and time span.
Give an overview of the main expansion and transport-related changes.
Describe the earliest period and development up to 1922.
Compare the 1922–1970 and 1970–1994 periods, including the directions of later growth.
Finish with a brief summary of the village’s expansion and continuing park and golf course.

Useful vocabulary & examples

built-up area: Land covered by buildings and developed settlement.
The built-up area was limited in the earliest period.
spread around the centre: Expanded outward in places close to the central area.
Development spread around the centre between 1883 and 1922.
in several separate areas: In a number of distinct locations rather than one continuous zone.
From 1970 to 1994, development appeared in several separate areas.
transport links: Routes or services that connect places, such as railways and motorways.
The map shows the railway and motorway as important transport links.

Task Prompt

Chorleywood is a village near London whose population has increased steadily since the middle of the nineteenth century. The map below shows the development of the village.

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 7.0

This map presents the evolution of Chorleywood village from 1968 to 1994. From an overall perspective, it is apparent that most of the structures were built in 18th century. Over the same period, a motorway and Railway were added to the area. Between 1868 and 1883 there were only one small residential area and two main roads. The railway and station had not yet been added, and development was confined to a small area. In the following period, up to 1922, built-up land extended around the station. The railway was constructed in 1909, and the station became a central feature of the village.

Between 1922 and 1970, development spread further to the west and south of the railway, although Chorleywood Park and Golf Course occupied a substantial area to the north. The motorway was built in 1970. From then until 1994, housing expanded most noticeably on the eastern side of the map, with several new areas appearing around the motorway and along the roads.

Overall, Chorleywood grew from a compact settlement into a much more extensive village. The railway and, later, the motorway were important transport additions during this expansion, while the park and golf course remained a distinct open space.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Copy the date range from the map title accurately, then keep the opening overview focused on the actual overall change: Chorleywood expanded over time.

Use the legend’s four periods to compare development: early settlement, growth around the station, expansion before 1970, and later development.

Proofread singular subjects and articles, especially phrases such as “one small residential area” and “in the eighteenth century.”

AI Feedback

Overall Band

7.0

Good

Words

201

Type

Map

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

5.5 Band

The account identifies the railway, motorway and broad expansion, and it includes some useful period-by-period detail. However, “from 1968 to 1994” gives the wrong starting year, and “most of the structures were built in 18th century” misreads the map’s 1868–1994 development periods. The comparison of growth across periods is also limited. Check the map title and legend first, then select the main changes and report them accurately.

Coherence & Cohesion

6.0 Band

The response moves in chronological order, using “Between 1868 and 1883” and “Between 1922 and 1970” to guide the reader through the changes. Its concluding summary also returns to the overall expansion. However, the opening overview is factually confusing, and the first period is repeated across adjacent sentences. Organise the report into a concise overview followed by grouped period comparisons, avoiding restatement of the same stage.

Lexical Resource

6.0 Band

Relevant map-report vocabulary includes “residential area,” “built-up land” and “expanded,” while the names Chorleywood Park and Golf Course add specificity. Some choices are imprecise: “structures” is less suitable than “built-up areas,” and “18th century” confuses a century with the map’s dated periods. Use the legend’s time ranges and distinguish housing or built-up areas from transport routes and open space.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

5.5 Band

The answer uses some longer structures, including “although Chorleywood Park and Golf Course occupied a substantial area to the north,” and the later sentences are generally controlled. There are, however, clear errors in “there were only one small residential area” and the missing article in “in 18th century.” Capitalising “Railway” mid-sentence is also inconsistent. Check subject–verb agreement, articles before singular countable nouns, and standard capitalisation during proofreading.

Topic Band Distribution

Band 9.03 examples

Band 8.03 examples

Band 7.03 examples

Band 6.03 examples

Band 5.03 examples

Band 4.03 examples

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