Australian Beachfront Area Maps 1950 and Today

The maps below show a beachfront area in Australia in 1950 and the same area today.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 question image

Annotated response

1 correction note

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The maps illustrate the transformation of a beachfront area in Australia from 1950 to the present day.

Overall , the area has undergone significant redevelopment , shifting from a primarily recreational space to a more commercialized zone with improved infrastructure. The most notable changes include the expansion of parking facilities, the lengthening of the road, and the addition of new amenities for visitors.

In the northern section, the playground that existed in 1950 has been demolished and replaced by a new car park. The original car park in the north-east corner has also been expanded in size . While the pavilion and picnic tables remain in their original central location , the road has been significantly extended, now stretching further south along the eastern coastline.

Moving to the southern part of the map, the 25m pool on the western side has been enlarged into a 50m pool. Next to this facility, a new restaurant and a surf club have been constructed . On the eastern side, the 25m pool and the lighthouse remain unchanged ; however, a second surf club was built adjacent to the pool. The newly extended road now curves around this surf club, providing better access to the southern end of the beach.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.5

The response demonstrates strong data selection and accurate spatial reporting, with a clear overview and well-organised paragraphing that follows the map's geography. The main limitation is a slightly imprecise claim that the original car park was expanded, when the visual shows it retained with an additional car park added elsewhere.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

Task Achievement

7.5

The response covers all major changes, including the new car park, extended road, 50m pool, restaurant, and surf clubs, with a clear overview of the shift toward commercialization, though the claim that the original car park expanded in size is not fully supported by the visual.

Coherence and Cohesion

7.5

Ideas progress logically through clear geographic staging from north to south, supported by cohesive devices such as 'Moving to the southern part' and consistent referencing, with only occasional mechanical spacing after punctuation.

Lexical Resource

7.5

Vocabulary is flexible and precise for map description, using terms like 'demolished', 'redevelopment', 'amenities', and 'adjacent', with only minor awkwardness such as 'expanded in size'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

8.0

A wide range of complex structures, including passive voice, relative clauses, and contrastive constructions, is handled with flexibility and accuracy, with errors rare and non-impeding.