The maps below shows the town of Lynnfield in 1936 and then later in 2007.
Sample Response
The maps detail changes to a town called Lynnfield between 1936 and 2007. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became more residential, commercial, and accessible at the expense of natural land, agriculture and smaller shops.
In 1936, to the northwest and northeast of the town were several trees and a river surrounded by untouched land. By 2007, the number of trees had declined and the land around the river became a residential area. To the southwest of the town, a cycling path was turned into a road for cars and on the opposite side of the map a museum and golf course replaced government offices and farm land.
In terms of the center of the town itself, there was a post office, sweet shop and butcher’s in a single row with a lane separating those businesses from the flower shop, bank and library. In 2007, only the bank (slightly expanded in size), library, and post office remained the same. The flower shop had by then been removed in favor of a travel agent, there was a shopping center in the previously unoccupied space between businesses, and the sweet shop and butcher’s were combined and transformed into a large supermarket.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use concise overview marker Original: Looking from an overall perspective Suggested revision: Overall Why it matters: A concise overview marker expresses the same function more naturally.
- 2. Specify the access change Original: accessible Suggested revision: better connected by road Why it matters: The map specifically shows a cycle path becoming a road, so this wording is more precise.
- 3. Use precise land term Original: natural Suggested revision: undeveloped Why it matters: Undeveloped land is a more natural term for land without buildings.
- 4. Name the mapped feature Original: agriculture Suggested revision: farmland Why it matters: The 1936 map labels a specific area of farmland rather than agriculture in general.
- 5. Use the map label Original: a cycling path Suggested revision: the cycle path Why it matters: The definite article and the map's label identify this specific feature more precisely.
- 6. Give an exact location Original: on the opposite side of the map Suggested revision: in the southeast Why it matters: A compass location makes the spatial comparison clearer and less dependent on the previous clause.
- 7. Use precise land term Original: farm Suggested revision: agricultural Why it matters: Agricultural land is a precise alternative for the labelled farm area.
- 8. Sentence rewrite Original: In 1936, to the northwest and northeast of the town were several trees and a river surrounded by untouched land. Suggested revision: In 1936, three trees stood to the northwest of the town centre, while a river ran through the northeast. Why it matters: The rewrite separates the two features and reports their locations and number more accurately.
- 9. Sentence rewrite Original: By 2007, the number of trees had declined and the land around the river became a residential area. Suggested revision: By 2007, only one tree remained, the river was no longer shown, and a residential area occupied the northeast. Why it matters: The 2007 map shows one tree and no river, so the change should be stated explicitly.
- 10. Sentence rewrite Original: In 2007, only the bank (slightly expanded in size), library, and post office remained the same. Suggested revision: In 2007, the library and post office were unchanged, while the bank was slightly enlarged. Why it matters: The bank cannot be described as unchanged when the map shows that it became larger.
Suggested Rewrites
- Looking from an overall perspective Overall
- accessible better connected by road
- natural undeveloped
- agriculture farmland
- a cycling path the cycle path
- on the opposite side of the map in the southeast
Why this response received Band 8.5
The response gives a comprehensive, well-organised account of the town's transformation, with a clear overview and accurate coverage of virtually all major changes. Its main limitation is a small amount of imprecise spatial wording, particularly the description of a lane separating the central businesses. The highest-priority refinement is to use the map's road layout and compass positions with complete precision while retaining the response's strong selection and grouping of details.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and comprehensive, accurate selection of major changes fulfil the task very strongly, with only minor spatial imprecision.
Describe the central road arrangement and exact locations more precisely to make every comparison fully faithful to the maps.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information progresses logically from peripheral changes to the town centre, with cohesive paragraphing and unobtrusive linking.
Make the grouping even sharper by consistently organising details according to fixed map sectors or feature types.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise range of change vocabulary is used naturally, although phrases such as 'natural land' are slightly awkward.
Replace occasional vague or awkward choices with exact map language such as undeveloped land and the central road.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Complex sentences and varied structures are handled with excellent control, and errors are very rare and non-impeding.
Maintain this accuracy while tightening occasional long list sentences so that each spatial relationship remains immediately clear.
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The maps below shows the town of Lynnfield in 1936 and then later in 2007.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.