The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
Sample Response
The given maps portray an island before and after the expansion of several tourist amenities. Over the period, the island witnessed dramatic transformations from a completely bare land to a tourist stop. A beach used to be abandoned in the past, however nowadays it has become a swimming area. Next to the beach, several accommodations were built. Moreover, footpaths were built surrounding the accommodations. Moving to the north area, a restaurant was established along with a vehicle track, which was connected to the reception in front of the restaurant. Moreover, a pier was added making it easier for visitors and yachts to access the area. Few trees were cut to facilitate the construction, as can be seen. In summary, the island had transformed in many areas; but a bare land remained in the north-eastern part. The newly added amenities would facilitate the tourists to stay and enjoy the place.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Describe new construction Original: expansion Suggested revision: construction Why it matters: The first map shows no tourist facilities, so the change is construction rather than expansion.
- 2. Acknowledge existing trees Original: a completely bare land Suggested revision: an undeveloped island with trees Why it matters: The island was undeveloped before construction but was not bare because several trees were present.
- 3. Use countable units Original: several accommodations Suggested revision: several accommodation units Why it matters: Accommodation is uncountable, so individual buildings should be called accommodation units.
- 4. Use spatial description Original: Moving to the north area Suggested revision: In the northern part of the island Why it matters: A static map description should identify the location directly rather than imply movement.
- 5. Avoid unsupported detail Original: visitors and yachts Suggested revision: visitors arriving by boat Why it matters: The map shows boats using the pier but does not identify them specifically as yachts.
- 6. Use passive voice Original: had Suggested revision: was Why it matters: The island underwent the changes, so a passive construction is required.
- 7. Use uncountable land Original: a bare land remained Suggested revision: an undeveloped area remained Why it matters: Land is uncountable here, while area accurately describes the unchanged section.
- 8. Use correct verb pattern Original: facilitate the tourists to stay Suggested revision: allow tourists to stay Why it matters: Facilitate does not take a person followed by a to-infinitive in this construction.
- 9. Use map transition Original: Over the period Suggested revision: Following the redevelopment Why it matters: The maps provide no dates, so a change-based transition is more precise than an unspecified period.
- 10. Use singular change Original: witnessed dramatic transformations Suggested revision: underwent a dramatic transformation Why it matters: The overall redevelopment is naturally described as one transformation, and underwent is the appropriate verb.
- 11. Use precise destination Original: stop Suggested revision: resort Why it matters: Resort more precisely describes an island with accommodation, a restaurant, reception, paths, and a pier.
- 12. Add separating comma Original: added making Suggested revision: added, making Why it matters: The supplementary participial phrase should be separated from the main clause with a comma.
Suggested Rewrites
- expansion construction
- a completely bare land an undeveloped island with trees
- several accommodations several accommodation units
- Moving to the north area In the northern part of the island
- visitors and yachts visitors arriving by boat
- had was
Why this response received Band 6.5
The response gives a clear tour of the principal new facilities and links, using varied map language and a recognisable overall change. However, calling the original island completely bare and asserting tree removal overstate what the map shows, while several descriptions and tense choices are awkward. Prioritise a fully accurate overview—tourist development concentrated in the west and centre while the east remained largely unchanged—then refine location phrases and verb forms.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
Most major additions are identified, including accommodation, paths, the reception, restaurant, pier, and swimming area, but the overview and tree-removal claim are not fully supported by the map.
Summarise the central pattern accurately and avoid claims about the original island being bare or trees being removed unless the maps clearly demonstrate them.
Coherence and Cohesion
The description follows a broadly logical route through the developed island, although repeated "Moreover" links and a late summary make the progression somewhat mechanical.
Group the western accommodation area and the central transport facilities into separate, clearly sequenced detail paragraphs.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary for describing development and location is reasonably varied, but phrases such as "tourist stop," "north area," and "several accommodations" are awkward or imprecise.
Use more natural map-report terms such as "tourist destination," "northern area," and "accommodation units."
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
The response shows some complex sentence control, while tense shifts, article choices, and awkward passive constructions remain noticeable but do not impede meaning.
Maintain a consistent past-tense description and revise forms such as "the beach was converted into a swimming area" and "a few trees."
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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.