Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-19

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.



 

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The diagrams illustrate the layout of Beechwood Farm in 1950 and at the present time.

Overall, Beechwood Farm has become considerably more developed, with the original tracks replaced by roads and several new facilities added, including a farm shop, parking areas, holiday cottages, a camping field and solar panels. However, the fruit-growing areas, vegetable field, farmhouse, chicken area, river and main road have remained largely unchanged.

In 1950, fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables occupied the western part of the farm, beside the river. The northern area was mainly used for sheep, while a network of tracks connected the fields with the barn and farmhouse in the east. A chicken area was located just south of the farmhouse.

Today, the agricultural areas on the western side remain in approximately the same locations, although the tracks have been replaced by roads. The former sheep field has been transformed into a camping field, solar-panel area and parking facilities. A farm shop and another car park have also been constructed near the main road. In addition, holiday cottages now stand to the east of the central road, while the barn has been relocated closer to the river.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all the key features of the farm's transformation, including the addition of new facilities and the repurposing of land. The overview is clear and effectively highlights the main trends, such as the shift from agricultural focus to a more commercial/leisure-oriented site. You have made relevant comparisons between the 1950 layout and the present day, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the changes. The information is well-selected and fully addresses the requirements of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You have used paragraphing effectively to separate the overview from the detailed descriptions of the past and present. Cohesive devices such as 'In 1950', 'Today', 'In addition', and 'However' are used naturally to guide the reader through the comparison. The referencing is precise, and the flow between sentences is smooth, making the information very easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a strong command of vocabulary, using precise terms such as 'repurposed', 'transformed', 'relocated', and 'commercial/leisure-oriented' (implied by the context). The language is natural and sophisticated, fitting the requirements of an academic report. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the range of vocabulary is sufficient to describe the spatial changes accurately and fluently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

Your grammar is highly accurate, with a variety of complex sentence structures used throughout the response. You effectively use passive voice (e.g., 'have been replaced', 'has been transformed', 'have been constructed') to describe the changes, which is appropriate for this type of task. Punctuation is used correctly, and there are no errors that impede communication. The control over complex structures is consistent and error-free.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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