The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
Sample Response
The given maps portray the changes that took place on an island after the construction of certain tourist facilities. According to the maps, we can immediately see that there are many establishments on the island for recreations now but those were not present on the old map. First, a pier was constructed so that people can visit this island by boat. Second, lots of accommodations were built around the trees and those trees were kept intact. A reception was built in the middle of all accommodations, and a new restaurant is now located behind the reception. Third, on the left corner of the island, people can now go for swimming near the beach. The swimming area was designed for visitors. Last but not least, travellers can now walk around the island on the footpath. Meanwhile, vehicle tracks have connected the pier to the reception and ended at the restaurant. In summary, many tourist facilities were built on the island for the entertainment and tourist facilities without sacrificing trees.
IELTS Writing Correction
- 1. Use uncountable noun Original: recreations Suggested revision: recreation Why it matters: “Recreation” is uncountable when referring generally to leisure activities.
- 2. Use map comparison term Original: old Suggested revision: earlier Why it matters: “Earlier map” refers more precisely to the island before development.
- 3. Fix accommodation count Original: lots of accommodations Suggested revision: numerous accommodation units Why it matters: “Accommodation” is uncountable, so individual buildings should be called accommodation units.
- 4. Locate reception accurately Original: in the middle of all accommodations Suggested revision: between the two accommodation areas Why it matters: The map places the reception centrally between the western and eastern groups of huts.
- 5. Use map direction Original: behind the reception Suggested revision: north of the reception Why it matters: The restaurant is directly north of the reception on the after map.
- 6. Use compass direction Original: on the left corner Suggested revision: at the western end Why it matters: The beach and swimming area are at the island's western end, not in a corner.
- 7. Fix swimming phrase Original: go for swimming near the beach Suggested revision: swim off the beach Why it matters: The map labels swimming in the sea immediately off the beach, and “go for swimming” is ungrammatical.
- 8. Describe paths accurately Original: walk around the island on the footpath Suggested revision: walk between the facilities on footpaths Why it matters: The dotted paths connect the huts, reception, restaurant, and beach rather than circling the entire island.
- 9. Use objective reporting Original: we can immediately see Suggested revision: it is immediately clear Why it matters: The impersonal phrase is more suitable for an objective map report.
- 10. Name facilities precisely Original: many establishments Suggested revision: several facilities Why it matters: “Facilities” matches the map prompt more precisely than the broad term “establishments.”
- 11. Use concise purpose phrase Original: so that people can visit this island Suggested revision: allowing visitors to reach the island Why it matters: The participial phrase expresses the pier's access function concisely.
- 12. Clarify hut placement Original: around Suggested revision: among Why it matters: The accommodation units are interspersed with the retained trees rather than forming circles around them.
Suggested Rewrites
- recreations recreation
- old earlier
- lots of accommodations numerous accommodation units
- in the middle of all accommodations between the two accommodation areas
- behind the reception north of the reception
- on the left corner at the western end
Why this response received Band 6.5
The report provides a clear overview of the island's transformation and identifies nearly all major additions, including accommodation, central facilities, the pier, paths, and swimming access. Its main limitation is spatial imprecision: the footpaths do not extend around the whole island, and the largely unchanged eastern area is omitted. Prioritise exact location and connection language supported by direct before-and-after comparisons.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
A clear overview and most key developments are presented accurately, though the eastern area is omitted and the extent of the footpaths is overstated.
Contrast the developed west and centre with the unchanged east, and state that footpaths link the cottages, reception, and beach rather than circling the island.
Coherence and Cohesion
The response follows a comprehensible sequence through the new features, but numbered transitions are mechanical and all information appears in one paragraph.
Separate the overview from two detail paragraphs organised by western accommodation and central transport or service facilities.
Lexical Resource
The report uses adequate map-related vocabulary, although several plural forms and collocations are unnatural or imprecise.
Use natural terms such as 'recreational facilities', 'accommodation units', 'go swimming', and 'vehicle track'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A useful range of structures is generally controlled, with occasional errors in countability, tense consistency, and preposition choice.
Keep descriptions consistently in the past tense and check uncountable nouns such as 'accommodation' and 'recreation'.
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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.