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.

185 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 modifications made to West Park Secondary School since its construction in 1950. Overall, it is evident that the school has undergone significant changes over the years, including the expansion of the school building, and the addition of a sports field and a car park. Initially, in 1950, the West Park Secondary School was situated in the north-east, while three houses occupied the north-west. Farmland lay in the south-west, and a playground was in the south-east. By 1980, the houses and farmland had disappeared. The school remained in the north-east, although a science block had been added immediately to its west. The former housing area had become a car park, while a sports field replaced the farmland. The playground remained in the south-east. In 2010, the main building was still in the north-east, with the science block directly to its west. The car park had expanded to cover almost all of the western side of the site. The sports field was now a narrower area in the lower middle, between the car park and playground, while the playground remained in the south-east.

Targeted Improvement Tips

Check each overview claim against the maps: the main building stays in the north-east, while the science block is the clearly visible addition.

Compare the layouts by date, explicitly noting that the car park expands and the sports field becomes narrower by 2010.

Avoid repeating unchanged features in the final paragraph; use that space for a concise comparison of the main land-use changes.

AI Feedback

Overall Band

8.0

Excellent

Words

185

Type

Map

Criteria Breakdown

Task Achievement

7.5 Band

The response covers all three dates and identifies key changes, including houses and farmland being replaced and the car park expanding by 2010. However, the claim of “the expansion of the school building” is not clearly supported by the plans: the main building appears to remain in the north-east. For greater accuracy, describe the addition of the science block and the changing size and position of the car park and sports field instead.

Coherence & Cohesion

8.0 Band

The answer moves in a clear chronological sequence, signposted by “Initially, in 1950,” “By 1980,” and “In 2010.” This makes the site’s development easy to follow, and the final details contrast the changing sports field and car park with the playground’s stable position. As a refinement, avoid repeating “the playground remained in the south-east” and use the final sentence to summarise the overall change in land use.

Lexical Resource

7.5 Band

There is appropriate map vocabulary in phrases such as “occupied the north-west,” “replaced the farmland,” and “directly to its west.” These choices communicate location and change precisely. Some wording is broad, particularly “significant changes over the years,” and “expansion” may overstate what the plan shows. Next, choose concise terms that distinguish what was added, replaced, retained, or enlarged.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy

8.0 Band

The answer uses a good range of accurate structures, including the contrast in “although a science block had been added” and the past perfect in “had disappeared.” Time references and location phrases are generally controlled. In the opening summary, the comma in “the school building, and the addition” is unnecessary. Check punctuation around coordinated items during editing, while retaining the otherwise clear sentence structure.

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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