Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

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

Student answer (Band 8.0)

The diagrams below show the developments that have occured in the Grange Park since 1920.

Overall, several new advancements have been made to ensure people visiting the park have a better experience. A cafe, specific playing area for children and parking have been introduced. The seating has also been upscaled to accomodate more number of people.

When the public park was opened in 1920 there was a fountain in the center and a small stage to the west of the fountain, where musicians could provide entertainment to the people in the park. Seating arrangements were minimal and located in the outlines of the park. There were three rose gardens in the Grange Park. In the north-eastern region, there was a small body of water with water plants. In 1920, the public park had two entrances located to the north and south of the central fountain; a glasshouse was built to the right of the southern entrance gate.

Today the park looks very different as the fountain has completely been replaced by one of the two rose gardens; the garden also has multiple seats to provide a comfortable experience for visitors. The second garden remains unchanged in the north-west section of the park. The entrance locations are unchanged but a underground car park has been built in the south-eastern corner. A cafe has also been designed to provide drinks and refreshments for people. There is also a play area for children in the north-east section of the park. The glasshouse has been replaced with a small pond to enhance the park visually. The small stage has been upscaled and tranformed into a theatre suitable for larger audiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response effectively addresses the task by providing a clear overview and comparing the 1920 layout with the current one. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the removal of the fountain, the addition of the cafe and play area, and the transformation of the stage. The information is accurate and well-selected. To reach a higher band, ensure that all comparisons are explicitly linked to the changes; for example, you could further highlight the shift in the park's purpose from a purely aesthetic space to a more functional, family-oriented facility. Overall, the response is well-structured and covers all key developments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs detailing the past and present states of the park. The progression of ideas is smooth, and you use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'when the public park was opened', 'today', and 'the second garden remains unchanged'. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two time periods. The flow is natural, and the relationship between the different features is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for describing maps and changes, such as 'upscaled', 'accommodate', 'refurbished', and 'transformed'. There are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'occured' (occurred) and 'accomodate' (accommodate). While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise enough to convey the intended meaning clearly, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or topic-specific terms related to urban planning or landscape design would help elevate the lexical range to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and error-free, which aids readability. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'more number of people' (a larger number of people) and 'the fountain has completely been replaced' (the fountain has been completely replaced). However, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. Your control over tense usage, particularly the shift between the past simple for 1920 and the present perfect for current developments, is accurate and well-managed.

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