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

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 1 question on IELTSX. The plans below show the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.

Farm Site Changes 1950 and Today - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

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

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Writing Task 1 chart for Farm Site Changes 1950 and Today
Chart supplied with the IELTS Writing Task 1 question: Farm Site Changes 1950 and Today

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7 ยท 238 words.

The maps compare the changes made in a farm between 1950 and present day.

Overall, the area has become more modernized. There have been significant improvements in infrastructure and additional constructions, including solar panels and a camping field.

In 1950, there was a highway in the southern part of the map, crossing with a river. There used to be a track, leading from the highway to the east. The track was shaped triangular in the center of the map. Moreover, there was a barn, a farmhouse and an area for chickens in the south-east. There used to be a huge area for sheep on the top-right side of the map. Fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables used to connect the river with the track.

In the present day, the highway, the river remain untouched, however the track has been transformed into a road. The barn has been decreased in size and reconstructed in the center of the map, leaving it linked to the triangle road. Fruit trees, soft fruits and vegetables have remained unchanged, but a farm shop has been added to the fruit trees. A number of solar panels and parking have been built on the top-left side of the map, completely demolishing the area for sheep. Another parking area has been built on the south of the area. In addition, the camping field has been constructed on the center of the map, along with a tree.

Examiner feedback

The response is a strong Band 7.0. It provides a clear, logical comparison of the two maps with a solid overview and effective use of descriptive vocabulary for changes. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more nuanced spatial descriptions and ensuring all collocations are natural for an academic context.

Task Achievement - 7

- The response covers all requirements of the task, including a clear overview of the main changes. - Key features like the transformation of the track into a road and the removal of the sheep area are highlighted. - While accurate, the description of the location of the barn could be more precise regarding its new orientation.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is logically organized with a clear chronological progression from 1950 to the present day. - A variety of cohesive devices (e.g., 'Moreover', 'In addition', 'However') are used appropriately. - Paragraphing is used sufficiently to distinguish between the overview and the body paragraphs.

Lexical Resource - 7

- A good range of vocabulary related to map changes is used (e.g., 'modernized', 'infrastructure', 'demolishing', 'transformed'). - There is an awareness of style and collocation, though some expressions like 'the barn has been decreased' are slightly unnatural. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- A variety of complex structures are used, including passive voice and relative clauses. - Most sentences are error-free, although there are minor lapses in preposition usage and subject-verb agreement. - Punctuation is generally well-controlled, supporting the flow of the description.

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