User-written IELTS example
Writing Academic Task 1 Band 9.0 Example
Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.
Illustrative target band for this original model answer.
Plan your answer
Try your own response before reading the samples.
Ideas to explore
- Trace how the western side changed from houses and farmland to a car park and sports field, then to an expanded car park and smaller sports field.
- Note that the science block appears by 1980, while the main school building stays in the northeastern area.
- Identify features that remain broadly stable across the maps, including the main road along the northern boundary and the playground in the southeast.
Suggested structure
- Introduce the dates and identify the maps as changes to the school site.
- Give an overview of the main redevelopment and the features that remain.
- Describe the 1950 layout using clear directional references.
- Compare the main additions and replacements in 1980 and 2010.
- End with the most notable change, such as the car park’s expansion and the sports field’s reduction.
Useful vocabulary & examples
- occupy the western side
- be located across the western part of a site
By 2010, the car park occupied most of the western side.
- be replaced by
- be removed and have something else put in its place
The houses and farmland were replaced by facilities for parking and sport.
- expand southwards
- increase in size toward the south
The car park expanded southwards between 1980 and 2010.
- remain in the northeastern area
- stay broadly in the northeast part of a location
The main school building remained in the northeastern area of the site.
Task Prompt

User Essay Analysis
Review the public answer with report-style highlights.
The diagrams depict the evolution of West Park Secondary School from its inception in 1950 to the alterations observed in 2010. Overall, the maps illustrate a significant transformation in the land use surrounding the school, particularly emphasizing the emergence of educational and recreational facilities while some areas have been repurposed. In 1950, the layout of the school was relatively simple. Three houses lined the northern part of the western side, while the school building stood to the east, beside the main road. Farmland occupied the southwest, and a playground was located in the southeast. The main road ran along the northern boundary. By 1980, the houses and farmland had disappeared. A car park had been created in the northwest, and the former farmland had become a sports field. A science block was added immediately west of the main school building, which remained in the northeast; the playground continued to occupy the southeastern corner. In 2010, the car park had expanded southwards to cover most of the western side. The science block and main school building remained in the northern part of the site, although the sports field was reduced and repositioned directly below the science block. The playground remained in the southeast. Thus, the most notable later changes were the larger parking area and smaller sports field, while the school's principal buildings and the road stayed in place.
Targeted Improvement Tips
Related examples for this topic
Compare different bands on the same IELTS prompt.
The maps illustrate the compound of West Park Secondary School and the modifications that took place over the years from 1950 to 2010. Overall, upon first glance, it is evident...
Band 8.0The three different maps illustrate that significant changes have occurred at West Park Secondary School between 1950 and 2010. Additionally, there is an interim map that outlin...
Band 7.0The diagrams give information about the construction of buildings in West Park Secondary school from the period of 1950 to 2010. Firstly, the school (main building) throughout t...
Band 6.0The maps illustrate how West Park Secondary School has transformed over time, 1950, 1980, and 2010. Overall, it can be seen that the school had undergone some significant change...
Band 5.0The photos illustrate a reconstruction of the West park Secondary School from 1950 to 2010. Overall, location and the size of the main road remained the same and the placement o...
Band 4.0The diagrams illustrate the reconstruction of West Park Secondary School over the 30 years since 1950. There was a unit that had been removed, while the other had been built and...