Back to Writing Hub

User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 8.0 Example

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

195 words AcademicTask 1Process Diagram
Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

Plan your answer

Try your own response before reading the samples.

Ideas to explore

  • Describe the overall shift from scientific research to tourism before listing individual map features.
  • Compare what stayed the same (the pier, beach, natural spring and rocks) with what was added or replaced.
  • Group details by location: the western pier and beach, the central hotel and leisure facilities, and the eastern spring, rocks and lookout.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce what the two maps compare.
  2. Give an overview of the island’s main change and any notable features that remain.
  3. Describe the past layout, moving from west to east.
  4. Describe the present layout in the same order and compare new facilities with former features.
Useful vocabulary & examples
be transformed into
to change substantially into a different kind of place or thing

Paradise Island has been transformed into a popular tourist destination.

remain in place
to continue to exist in the same location

The natural spring and the rocks remain in place on the eastern side.

be replaced by
to give way to something new in the same position or role

The small boat was replaced by a cruise ship.

inland from
away from the coast and towards the interior

The hotel complex is located inland from the beach.

Task Prompt

The diagram below show the condition of paradise island in the past and now. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

The maps illustrate how a redevelopment has shaped the layout of Paradise Island. In terms of overall changes, Paradise Island has shifted its focus towards entertainment and recreation, with the addition of the swimming pool and a hotel complex in place of the old features like the trees and the scientific research station. Of particular note, the natural spring and rocks in the east have been retained, whereas the central trees and the scientific research station have disappeared. The beach and pier are also still present, although the pier is now accompanied by a cruise ship on the southwest coast.

In the present layout, a swimming pool lies just inland from the beach, with the hotel complex immediately to its south. An open restaurant has been built farther east, near the middle of the island, and a barbecue area and café occupy the eastern side. The natural spring remains in this area, while a scenic lookout has been added near the rocks at the northeastern tip. A cycle path now runs around much of the island, linking the new facilities. Overall, the island retains some natural and coastal features but has gained several visitor amenities.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Separate features that disappeared from facilities that were added, rather than implying that each new facility replaced a specific old feature.
2
Group location details consistently—for example, describe the west, then the centre, then the east—and avoid repeating the removal of the research station.
3
Use precise formal wording such as “former features” and “visitor facilities”; check that each comparison is supported by a visible map feature.

Related examples for this topic

Compare different bands on the same IELTS prompt.

Browse all