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. OverallLooking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became more residential, commercial, and better connected by roadaccessible at the expense of undevelopednatural land, farmlandagriculture 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, the cycle patha cycling path was turned into a road for cars and in the southeaston the opposite side of the map a museum and golf course replaced government offices and agriculturalfarm 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.
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.