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Cambridge 17 Writing Task 1 Test 1 - Sample Answers (Band 9 to 4-5)
Real band 9, 8, 7 and 6.5 sample answers for this prompt, plus a genuine band 4-5 answer so you can see exactly what pulls a score down. Every sample comes with examiner-style notes on Task Achievement, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
The Prompt
Norblton Industrial Area - Now and Planned Development
The maps below show an industrial area in the town of Norblton, and planned future development of the site.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The Data
Norblton Industrial Area - now vs planned future development
Main land use: Now: factories/industrial buildings → Planned: housing and green space
River area: Now: industrial use along river → Planned: riverside park/pedestrian zone
Road access: Now: road access to factories → Planned: road access retained; new pedestrian paths
Farmland (north): Now: farmland borders site → Planned: farmland retained
Town connection: Now: industrial area separated from town → Planned: integrated residential development
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195 wordsExplicitly identifies the one feature that stays unchanged, showing genuine data selection rather than only listing changes.
The maps compare the current layout of an industrial area in the town of Norblton with how the site is planned to look following future redevelopment.
Overall, the redevelopment transforms the site from a purely industrial zone, separated from the surrounding town, into a residential area with green and pedestrian-friendly spaces, while the farmland bordering the site to the north remains unchanged.
Currently, the site is dominated by factories and industrial buildings, with land along the river given over to industrial use and road access provided specifically for factory traffic. The area is notably separated from the rest of the town, with no residential integration, while farmland borders the site to the north.
Under the planned development, the factories will be replaced entirely by housing and green space, and the riverside area will be converted into a park with a pedestrian zone rather than remaining industrial. Road access to the site will be retained, but new pedestrian paths will be added, and, most significantly, the area will become an integrated residential development connected to the town rather than remaining separated from it. The farmland to the north, however, will be left exactly as it is.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Accurately covers all five features with a clear overview identifying the site's transformation from separated industrial zone to integrated residential area, while noting the one unchanged feature.
Coherence & Cohesion: Overview precedes detail organised by current state then planned state, with cohesive devices ("however", "most significantly") linking clearly.
Lexical Resource: Precise, varied language ("integrated residential development", "pedestrian-friendly", "bordering") used accurately throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Wide range of accurate structures, including future passive forms used appropriately.
Band 8
165 wordsAccurate and clearly organised, just slightly less varied in its vocabulary than a band 9 answer.
The maps show an industrial area in Norblton now and how it is planned to look after future development.
Overall, the site will change from an industrial area into a residential area with more green space, while the farmland to the north will stay the same.
At the moment, the area consists mainly of factories and industrial buildings, with industrial use along the river and roads built for factory traffic. The area is currently separate from the rest of the town.
After the development, the factories will be replaced with housing and green space, and the riverside will become a park and pedestrian zone. The road access will stay, but new pedestrian paths will be added, and the area will become an integrated part of the town instead of being separate, while the farmland to the north will remain unchanged. These changes together suggest a clear shift in purpose for the site, from serving industry alone to serving the residential needs of the wider community.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Covers all five features accurately with a clear overview, including the unchanged farmland, though described a little more simply than in the band 9 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised with an overview followed by detail grouped by current and planned state; cohesive devices are accurate throughout.
Lexical Resource: Good range of vocabulary for describing change, though slightly less varied than the higher-band answer's phrasing.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Accurate throughout, with a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including future passive forms.
Band 7
152 wordsAll five features are correctly reported, but the unchanged farmland is only briefly mentioned rather than clearly highlighted.
The maps show an industrial area in Norblton now and how it will look after development.
Overall, the area will change from being industrial to being mostly housing, and it will be more connected to the town.
Right now, the area has factories and industrial buildings, and the river is used for industry. There are roads for the factories, but the area is separate from the town, and there is farmland to the north.
After the development, the factories will become housing and green space, and the river area will become a park. The roads will stay, but there will be new paths for people to walk. The farmland will not change. These changes show that the site will move away from industry and become part of the town instead, with more space for people to live and relax near the river, while the surrounding countryside stays exactly as it is today.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all five features accurately with a basic overview, but the overview does not clearly identify the unchanged farmland the way the higher-band answers do.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by current state then planned state, though features are listed with fairly plain connecting language throughout.
Lexical Resource: Adequate range for the task; figures are accurate but connecting language stays fairly plain throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Generally accurate, mostly simple sentence structures; meaning is always clear.
Band 6.5
152 wordsThe figures and features are all correct, but agreement and passive-voice errors appear in almost every sentence.
The map show an industrial area in Norblton now and how it will look after development.
Overall, the area will change from being industrial to being mostly housing, and it will be more connect to the town.
Right now, the area have factories and industrial building, and the river is use for industry. There is road for the factory, but the area is separate from the town, and there is farmland to the north.
After the development, the factory will become housing and green space, and the river area will become a park. The road will stay, but there will be new path for people to walk. The farmland will not change. This change show that the site will move away from industry and become part of the town instead, with more space for people to live and relax near the river, while the surrounding countryside stay exactly as it is today.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Reports all five features accurately, matching the content of the band 7 answer.
Coherence & Cohesion: Clearly organised by current and planned state, following the same structure as the higher-band answers.
Lexical Resource: Limited by "factory", "building", and "road" being used without their plural forms throughout.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent subject-verb agreement and passive-voice errors ("map show", "area have factories", "river is use") appear in nearly every sentence.
Band 4-5 - What to Avoid
32 wordsThree of the five listed features are missing entirely, and a personal opinion is inserted into what should be a factual report.
This map show factory area now and after.
They will make house there, this is good change I think.
The river will be nice too, this is my opinion about this map.
Examiner Notes
Task Achievement: Only two of the five listed features (land use and the river) are mentioned, road access, farmland, and the town connection are missing entirely, and a personal opinion is inserted, which has no place in a Task 1 report. At well under 150 words, the response is also underlength.
Coherence & Cohesion: Reads as disconnected remarks rather than an organised comparison of current and planned states.
Lexical Resource: Vague, repetitive vocabulary ("make house", "be nice") used instead of the specific features named on the maps.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy: Frequent errors throughout ("this map show", "the river will be nice too").
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Sign Up Free →These sample answers are written independently for Prep IELTS Now to illustrate real band-score differences. They are a study aid, not official Cambridge or IELTS material.