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User-written IELTS example

Writing Academic Task 1 Band 4.0 Example

Original task prompt, user essay, band score, and related examples in the same report workspace.

222 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 4.0

The present writing task in the form of map throws light on this information about that a science park in 2008 and the same park today. Looking from overall perspective it is crystal clear that in science park there was some new facilities have added. While some old facilities have remained same. A cursory glance at the maps, many changes can be seen. In 2008, the north part had grassland and offices with reception. There was also woodland near these places. In the middle, business units and a car park were shown, and IT centre was in the south-west. Cyber security was in the south-east. Roads went around the park and there were paths between some areas. Today, the grassland area has changed a lot. Research and development and a university hub are now in the north, while offices still stay in the north-east. Business units are still on the west side and car park remains near the centre. The IT centre was changed to an innovation centre. Cyber security is still in the south-east. A railway is still at the eastern edge, and cycle path, bus stop and station are also added. Trees are shown in lower west and near research area. Overall, the park has more buildings and transport facilities today, although some main places have stayed in same position.

Targeted Improvement Tips

1
Write a one-sentence overview that names the main transformation: new research, university and transport facilities, alongside features that remain.
2
Organise details by area, such as the north, central area and south, and compare 2008 with today within each area.
3
After drafting, check every sentence for a clear subject and verb; practise map-change forms such as “was replaced by” and “remained in the same location.”

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