The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which has been developed for tourism. It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the introduction of tourism, and six new features can be seen in the second diagram. The main developments are that the island is accessible and visitors have somewhere to stay. Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that have been built to accommodate visitors to the island. The other physical structures that have been added are a reception building, in the middle of the island, and a restaurant to the north of the reception. Before these developments, the island was completely bare apart from a few trees. As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on the island include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a linking the pier with the reception and restaurant, and Finally, there is a designated swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western tip of the island.
Island Tourist Facilities Before and After Development Map
The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Annotated response
6 correction notes
Overall assessment
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response covers the maps accurately and completely, giving a clear overview and a well-organised account of the accommodation, reception, restaurant, pier, paths, and swimming area. Its main limitation is that comparisons could be slightly richer in places, though language control and cohesion are consistently strong.
IELTS criteria
How each score was decided
Task Achievement
8.0The response presents a clear overview of the main developments, reports all key features accurately, and includes relevant comparisons such as the previously bare island versus the new structures, with no invented details.
Coherence and Cohesion
7.5Ideas progress logically from overview to buildings, then access routes and facilities, supported by varied cohesive devices and well-managed paragraphing, though transitions are occasionally slightly formulaic.
Lexical Resource
7.5Vocabulary is flexible and precise for a map task, with natural phrases like 'accommodate visitors', 'designated swimming area', and 'the western tip', showing good awareness of style and collocation.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
8.0A wide range of structures is used with strong control, including relative clauses, passive constructions, and varied prepositional phrases, with only rare, non-impeding slips.