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.

204 words AcademicTask 1Map

Task 1

Illustrative target band for this original model answer.

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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

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.

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

The diagrams illustrate the development of West Park Secondary School from 1950 to 2010. Looking at the west side of the map, we can see that houses were demolished to make way for the science block and car park in 1980. Additionally, farmland was converted into a sports field in 1980, which later transitioned into a smaller area, as part of the field was incorporated into an enlarged car park. Overall, the grounds were substantially reorganised: the original houses and farmland disappeared, while new educational and recreational facilities were introduced. By 2010, the car park had become the largest feature on the western side.

In 1950, the school occupied the north-east, with a playground to its south. Three houses stood in the north-west, while farmland covered the south-west. By 1980, these houses had been replaced by a car park and science block; the main building remained in the north-east. Farmland had become a sports field, and the playground stayed in the southeast.

By 2010, the car park had expanded south across much of the former sports field, leaving a smaller field near the centre. The science block remained between the car park and main building, while the school and playground retained their eastern positions.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Write a one-sentence overview that names the largest changes, then use separate paragraphs for the earlier layout and the later developments.

When describing the sports field, specify that it was partly reduced by the car park’s southward expansion rather than suggesting the whole field changed.

Replace conversational framing such as “we can see” with direct map-reporting language, and use precise change verbs such as “remained,” “expanded,” and “was replaced.”

AI Feedback

Overall Band

8.0

Excellent

Words

204

Type

Map

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

8.0 Band

The response identifies the main sequence of change, including houses being replaced, farmland becoming a sports field, and the later expansion of the car park. The overview that the grounds were “substantially reorganised” is supported by the details that follow. To make the comparison even more precise, distinguish the changes by date consistently and avoid implying that the whole sports field changed when only part of it was absorbed.

Coherence & Cohesion

8.0 Band

The answer moves from a general overview to the 1950 and 1980 arrangements, then finishes with the 2010 changes. This chronological structure makes the development easy to follow, and phrases such as “By 2010” clearly signal the final stage. One refinement would be to keep the opening focused on the overall pattern before giving individual west-side details, reducing repetition between the introduction and later paragraphs.

Lexical Resource

7.5 Band

There is a useful range of map vocabulary, including “demolished,” “converted,” “incorporated,” and “expanded south.” These verbs communicate physical changes efficiently. However, “transitioned into a smaller area” is less natural and precise than describing the field as reduced in size. For a stronger map description, select verbs that name the exact spatial change, such as expanded, replaced, remained, or was reduced.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

7.5 Band

The response uses varied sentence patterns, including the overview clause “while new educational and recreational facilities were introduced” and the compound sentence describing the 1980 layout. Meaning is generally clear, and the time references are handled consistently. The phrase “which later transitioned into a smaller area” has an unclear reference and awkward construction; revise it so the sports field is explicitly named as the feature that became smaller.

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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