Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-01

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 plans illustrate Grange park in the year 1920 and how it currently looks. There have been a lot of changes in the park layout and only a rose garden and the two entrances remained in the same place over the period.

The entrances were located at the top and bottom centers of the map in 1920 but there is now a new entrance from the underground car park in the bottom right corner. While there were three rose gardens previously to the right of the top entrance and in the left corners of the garden, only the one located in the top left corner remained. The seats were formerly located at the edges of the park but currently they are around the central rose garden.

However, the stage, fountain, glasshouse and pond were completely removed. The stage was remodelled to an amphitheatre. The central fountain was replaced by a rose garden. The glasshouse in the bottom right corner was replaced by a water feature while the pond and the rose garden in the top right corner were replaced by a children's play area and a cafe respectively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers the main features of the park's transformation. You have successfully identified the key changes, such as the removal of the stage and fountain, and the addition of the children's play area and cafe. The overview is clear, and the comparison between 1920 and the present day is well-structured. To reach a higher band, ensure that all data points are accurate; for instance, you mentioned the rose garden remained in the top left, but the map shows the original rose gardens were in different positions. A more precise description of the spatial layout would further enhance the clarity of your report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction and body paragraphs that group information by theme (entrances/gardens, removals, and replacements). Cohesive devices such as 'while', 'however', and 'but' are used effectively to contrast the two time periods. The progression of ideas is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that referencing is precise; for example, when mentioning 'the one located in the top left corner', ensure the reader can clearly link this back to the specific feature being discussed. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to a coherent flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'remodelled', 'replaced', and 'illustrate'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items related to urban planning or map description, such as 'undergone significant modifications' or 'a complete reconfiguration of the park's layout' to add variety to your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'While there were three rose gardens previously..., only the one... remained.' Punctuation is generally accurate, and the tense usage (past for 1920, present for current) is consistent and correct. There are very few errors, and those present do not hinder understanding. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using passive voice more extensively to describe the changes (e.g., 'The fountain was replaced by...').

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