Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-10

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The two maps below show road access to a city hospital in 2007 and 2010.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons wherever relevant.

Student answer (Band 8.5)

The two maps illustrate the changes made to the road access and parking facilities of a city hospital between 2007 and 2010.

Overall, the road system around the hospital was significantly improved during this period. The main changes were the construction of two roundabouts, a bus station, and separate car parks for staff and the public. In addition, the original bus stops were removed.

In 2007, the hospital was surrounded by a ring road, with Hospital Road running south from the building to City Road. There was a single car park for both staff and the public on the eastern side of Hospital Road. Three pairs of bus stops were located along Hospital Road, close to the hospital.

By 2010, the access system had been considerably reorganised. Two roundabouts were constructed on Hospital Road: one at the southern end where it meets City Road and another directly outside the hospital. The former bus stops were replaced by a bus station on the western side of Hospital Road, between the two roundabouts. The original shared car park was also replaced by two separate facilities. A staff car park was built near the hospital, while a much larger public car park was added to the north-east of the hospital.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response is excellent. You have successfully identified all key features of the maps, including the addition of roundabouts, the new bus station, and the reconfiguration of the car parks. The overview clearly highlights the significant improvements made to the road system, which is a crucial requirement for a high band score. You have made effective comparisons between 2007 and 2010, such as noting the replacement of the shared car park with two separate facilities and the relocation of bus services. The information is accurate and fully addresses the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The report is logically organized and easy to follow. You have used a clear paragraph structure: an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the specific changes. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'By 2010', and 'The former' are used naturally to guide the reader through the chronological changes. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the general overview to specific details about the road layout and then to the parking and bus facilities. The paragraphing is logical and contributes to the overall clarity of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and precise range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes. Phrases such as 'significantly improved', 'considerably reorganised', and 'separate facilities' show good control. You avoid repetition by using varied terminology to describe the hospital environment. The vocabulary is used accurately and naturally throughout the text, reflecting a high level of lexical sophistication suitable for an Academic Task 1 response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The writing is highly accurate with a variety of complex sentence structures. You effectively use passive voice constructions, such as 'were removed' and 'were constructed', which is appropriate for this type of descriptive task. There are no grammatical errors, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The control over complex sentence forms is consistent, and the text flows without any awkward phrasing or structural issues.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.