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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.

208 words AcademicTask 1Map
Task 1

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

  1. Introduce the dates and identify the maps as changes to the school site.
  2. Give an overview of the main redevelopment and the features that remain.
  3. Describe the 1950 layout using clear directional references.
  4. Compare the main additions and replacements in 1980 and 2010.
  5. 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

The diagram below show the changes that have taken place at West park secondary school since its construction in 1950. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting main features and make comparisons while relevant.
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 9.0

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 that the school perimeter has been expanded by converting farmland and houses into a car park and science block. To begin with, in 1950 the site was divided into four main areas. Houses occupied the north-western section, while the school stood to the north-east, beside the main road. Farmland covered the south-western area, and a playground was located in the south-east. By 1980, the houses and farmland had disappeared. A car park occupied the north-west, a science block was added beside it, and the main school building remained in the north-east. The former farmland had become a sports field, while the playground stayed in the south-east. In 2010, the car park had expanded southwards, taking up much of the area previously used for the sports field. The science block and main school building remained along the northern side, and the playground continued to occupy the south-east. The sports field was smaller than in 1980, occupying a narrow section between the car park and playground. Overall, the site became more developed, with greater provision for parking and school facilities.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Replace the perimeter-expansion claim with a summary supported by the maps: the site gained parking and a science block, while the sports field became smaller by 2010.
2
Track each area across all three dates: houses disappear, farmland becomes a sports field, and the car park later extends into much of that field.
3
Use precise location language consistently, such as “north-west”, “south-east” and “along the northern side”, and proofread expressions such as “at a glance”.

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