The pictures illustrate the position of a volcano, and a village before and after a volcanic eruption.

Position of a volcano and a village before and after a volcanic eruption - 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.

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 · 182 words.

The diagram illustrates the changes in a village and the surrounding landscape following a volcanic eruption.

Overall, the volcanic eruption had a significant effect on its surroundings. It resulted in a major loss of housing and caused notable damage to the flora of the area. In addition, it seems that when the volcano erupted, it mostly affected the western and south-western parts of the village while the Northern part remained somewhat intact.

Focusing on the Western side of the area, where the volcano is located, before the incident, trees and other greenery were present. However, after the eruption, the vast majority of them did not survive and the area was covered in lava. As a result, only a few trees and grass remained in the end.

Turning to the central and Eastern sides, they mostly remained somewhat undisturbed. All the residential homes were situated in this part of the village and more than half of them were destroyed, particularly the ones in the south-west. Trees, on the other hand, increased in number following the eruption, especially in the East, around the homes.

Examiner feedback

The response provides a clear and well-structured description of the volcanic eruption's impact, demonstrating strong grammatical control. To improve, the candidate should ensure all observations (such as the claimed increase in trees) align perfectly with the visual data provided in the diagrams.

Task Achievement - 7

- The response covers the requirements of the task by identifying the main features and providing a clear overview. - Key features like the lava flow and house destruction are highlighted. - There is a minor inaccuracy regarding the Eastern side; the diagram usually shows trees being destroyed or remaining, but the student's claim that trees 'increased' contradicts the typical logic of an eruption map.

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Information is logically organized with a clear progression from the western volcano site to the eastern residential area. - Cohesive devices like 'Turning to', 'As a result', and 'In addition' are used effectively. - Paragraphing is appropriate, though the transition between describing destruction and the unexplained 'increase' in trees could be smoother.

Lexical Resource - 7

- Vocabulary is sufficient to describe the changes clearly, using terms like 'notable damage', 'somewhat intact', and 'surrounding landscape'. - Some less common items are used correctly (e.g., 'flora', 'vast majority'). - There is a slight inaccuracy in describing the 'increase' in trees, which may stem from a misinterpretation of the visual symbols rather than language ability.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used with flexibility, including complex sentences and passive voice. - The majority of sentences are error-free, such as 'It resulted in a major loss of housing...'. - Punctuation is well-managed throughout the response.

Related prompts

• Male Female Students Art Related Subjects UK University 2011
• Town Centre Changes 1990 and Today
• Male Female Students High Grades Five Subjects Parston School National Average
• Qualifications Staff Advertising Company 1990 and 2010
• Australian School Leavers Activity 1980 1990 2000
• Layout Town Shopping Centre Present and Future Redevelopment