The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

Same questionCompare 13 different answers (Band 7–9)

Sample Response

1

The two maps show Grange Park in 1920 when it first opened and how it looks now. We can see many big changes in this park over the years. Overall, several original amenities were removedsome old things in the park were taken away, and various new recreational facilities were introducedmany new places were built. The old fountain, glasshouse and pond for water plants are gone. New amenities were introduced,People added new places, such as a cafe, a children’s play area and an underground car park entrance. The middle part of the park also changed a lot. In detail, the old music stage on the west side became an amphitheatre for concerts. The fountain in the centre was removed, and a rose garden with seats was built there. On the northeast of the park, the glasshouse was knocked down. A cafe and children’s play area occupy this place. The old pond in the southeast has been turned intoturns into a big water feature, and an underground car park entrance was constructedpeople made an underground car park entrance next to it. Only the rose garden in the northwest stays the same.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response provides a clear comparison of the two maps with an effective overview highlighting key changes over time. Main features and locations are reported accurately with good paragraph organisation and grammatical accuracy. To improve, enrich the range of vocabulary used to describe spatial positions and structural changes.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TA

Task Achievement

7.0
Scoring rule

The essay accurately identifies all key changes from 1920 to today and includes a clear overview of the park's transformation.

Next step

Detail minor features like the repositioning and surrounding layout of seating around the central rose garden to make the comparison even more comprehensive.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The response is organized logically into an introduction, overview, and body paragraphs with smooth transitions between features.

Next step

Incorporate a wider variety of cohesive devices beyond basic time markers and list connectors to improve overall flow.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

Vocabulary is generally accurate and appropriate for describing map changes, including terms like amphitheatre, occupied, and knocked down.

Next step

Use more precise descriptive verbs and phrases such as redeveloped, converted into, or relocated to reduce reliance on repetitive words like old and new.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Scoring rule

Sentences demonstrate good control over past and present tenses alongside accurate passive voice structures for map descriptions.

Next step

Vary sentence patterns further by integrating complex prepositions and participle clauses to describe location changes.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

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