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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.

218 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

  • Separate features that remain from those that have been added, relocated or replaced; the business units and car park remain, while the IT centre gives way to an innovation centre.
  • Describe the shift in land use: open grassland in the northwest is now substantially developed, while trees remain in the southwest.
  • Treat transport access as a key change, noting the cycle path, station and bus stop, while also mentioning the railway that continues to border the site.

Suggested structure

  1. Introduce the maps and identify the time comparison.
  2. Give an overview of the most important changes: redevelopment and improved access.
  3. Describe the 2008 arrangement by area, covering open land and existing facilities.
  4. Compare the current layout, highlighting retained and replaced buildings.
  5. Finish with access changes and any transport feature that remains.
Useful vocabulary & examples
give way to
to be replaced by something new

The IT centre has given way to an innovation centre.

remain in broadly similar positions
to stay in approximately the same locations

The business units remain in broadly similar positions.

be concentrated in
to be located mainly within a particular area

Woodland was concentrated in the southwest.

border the site
to run along the edge of an area

The railway continues to border the site to the east.

Task Prompt

The maps below show a science park in 2008 and the same park today. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
IELTS Writing Task 1 visual

User Essay Analysis

Review the public answer with report-style highlights.

Band 8.0

The two maps show the transformation of the Science park between 2008 and the present. Overall, the park become more modern and accessible with the introduction of the Research and Development Center, Innovative Center, and New Station. The park used to offer a few facilities in the past. There was a Grassland on the top of the park, while the offices and reception area were in the north-east. Business units lay to the west of the central car park, with an IT centre in the south-west and cyber security in the south-east. Woodland was also present, especially in the southern part, and a railway ran along the southern edge.

Today, the grassland has been replaced by a research and development building and a university hub, while the offices remain in the north-east. The business units and central car park are still present. In the south, the former IT centre has become an innovation centre, while cyber security remains in the south-east. A station has been added near the southern edge, and the railway is now shown along the eastern boundary. A cycle path runs across the area near the offices and car park, and a bus stop is located on the eastern road. Overall, the park retains several original facilities but now includes research, innovation and transport facilities.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Replace “the park become” with “the park has become,” then check every present-day change for consistent tense.
2
Make the 2008-to-present comparisons explicit: identify the former IT centre and grassland, then name what occupies or borders those areas now.
3
Use the map’s location terms consistently—north-east, south-west and eastern boundary—and check capital letters so only proper names are capitalised.

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