Shakefield town, 1995 and now: IELTS Task 1 answer #33, band 7.0

A student’s answer to this repeated IELTS question, shared without their name and marked by Axiom on the four criteria. Select a highlighted passage to see how it could be revised, and why.

300 words. Marked by Axiom on 11 August 2026. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

The map this answer describes

Shakefield town, 1995 and now: what the maps show

1995

The central area above the main road is dominated by a Public park and a small Hotel.
The right-hand area above the road has Farm land in the top-right corner.
The coastal/marine area at the bottom left features a Fish market and Morning fish boat.

Present

The Public park was replaced by Holiday homes and a Car park.
The Farm land in the top right was replaced by a Golf Course and a Tennis Course.
The fishing facilities (Fish market and Morning fish boat) were replaced by Apartments and leisure Yachts in the sea.
The Sport area was replaced by a Restaurant, while Housing expanded.
The Hotel expanded in size, and the Coffee shop remained unchanged.

New by Present: Restaurant, Apartment, Holiday homes, Car park, Golf Course, Tennis Course, Yacht
Gone by Present: Sport, Fish market, Morning fish boat, Public park, Farm land

Academic Task 1300 words

The diagram below shows the changes of the town called Shakefield from 1995 until now

The maps illustrate the main changes that took place in a town of Shakefield from 1995 to the present.

Overall, Shakefield has changed from being a fishing town to a tourist resort over time. Green spaces and fishing market with boats have been cleared out to make way for new facilities to cater to the tourists coming to the town.

In 1995, the town used to boast with leafy environment and fishing activities, as there was a fish market, opposite to the boats for sailors to sell their fish and a coffee place right next to the market, both being separated by the road in the middle. Looking at the central part of the town, there could be seen trees scattered throughout the place, with the hotel being constructed on the other side of the road from the coffee place, in the same part as the green space, and a farmland on the top right corner. Lastly, On the left side of the road from a hotel were sport facilities and housing units above it.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedIn 1995, Shakefield was characterized by a leafy environment and active fishing industry. There was a fish market opposite the area where fishing boats docked, and a coffee place next to the market. These facilities were separated by a central road.
Breaking up the sentence improves readability and clarity.
Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedIn the central part of the town, trees were scattered throughout a public park. The hotel was located across the road from the coffee place, near the green space, and farmland was situated in the top right corner.
Clarifies spatial relationships and simplifies sentence structure.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedLastly, on the left side of the road from the hotel, there were sports facilities and housing units above them.
Corrects capitalization and clarifies meaning.

Following the redevelopment, the town underwent several changes to its layout, starting with the removal of morning fish boats and a fish market to introduce yachts for visitors at the expense of the former and apartment blocks in the place of the latter, with a coffee place remaining intact. Where the trees once stood, by contrast, there is now a holiday house constructed and the hotel expanded in size to accommodate more tourists, while the farmland is demolished to be replaced by a golf course and a tennis one. Looking at the left side of the road from the central part, housing blocks have been renovated and increased in numbers, and a brand-new restaurant occupies the area where the sports center once used to be.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedAfter redevelopment, the morning fish boats and fish market were removed. Yachts for visitors replaced the boats, and apartment blocks were built where the fish market once stood. The coffee place remained unchanged.
Shorter sentences make the changes clearer and easier to follow.
Lexical resource
Close revision note
Revisedthe hotel was expanded to provide more accommodation for tourists
'Provide more accommodation' is more precise and formal.
Grammar & accuracy
Close revision note
RevisedOn the left side of the road in the central part, the number of housing blocks has increased, and a new restaurant now occupies the area where the sports center used to be.
Improves sentence structure and verb agreement.

Select a highlighted passage to see its suggested revision.

Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

What Axiom wrote for each criterion: why the answer earned its band, and what to work on next.

Coherence & cohesion

Band 7.0/ 9

The essay is logically organized, with clear progression from the past to the present. Paragraphing is appropriate, and linking words such as 'Overall', 'In 1995', and 'Following the redevelopment' help guide the reader. However, some sentences are overly long and complex, which can hinder clarity. Occasional awkward phrasing interrupts the flow.

Suggestions

Break up long sentences for clarity.
Use more concise linking phrases.
Ensure each paragraph focuses on a clear aspect of the changes.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedIn 1995, Shakefield was characterized by a leafy environment and active fishing industry. There was a fish market opposite the area where fishing boats docked, and a coffee place next to the market. These facilities were separated by a central road.
Breaking up the sentence improves readability and clarity.
RevisedIn the central part of the town, trees were scattered throughout a public park. The hotel was located across the road from the coffee place, near the green space, and farmland was situated in the top right corner.
Clarifies spatial relationships and simplifies sentence structure.
RevisedAfter redevelopment, the morning fish boats and fish market were removed. Yachts for visitors replaced the boats, and apartment blocks were built where the fish market once stood. The coffee place remained unchanged.
Shorter sentences make the changes clearer and easier to follow.

Grammar & accuracy

Band 7.0/ 9

The essay demonstrates a good range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences. However, there are some errors in sentence structure, punctuation, and agreement. Some sentences are overly long, leading to confusion.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedThese were separated by a central road.
Simplifies the sentence and corrects the structure.
RevisedLastly, on the left side of the road from the hotel, there were sports facilities and housing units above them.
Corrects capitalization and clarifies meaning.
RevisedOn the left side of the road in the central part, the number of housing blocks has increased, and a new restaurant now occupies the area where the sports center used to be.
Improves sentence structure and verb agreement.

Lexical resource

Band 7.0/ 9

The essay uses a range of vocabulary relevant to the topic, such as 'redevelopment', 'facilities', 'accommodate', and 'demolished'. Some word choices are slightly awkward or imprecise, and there is occasional repetition (e.g., 'place', 'part').

Sentence revisions 3

Revisedthe town was known for its green spaces and active fishing industry
'Known for' is more natural than 'boast with', and 'green spaces' is more precise.
RevisedIn the central part of the town, trees were scattered throughout the public park
'Public park' is more specific and avoids repetition of 'place'.
Revisedthe hotel was expanded to provide more accommodation for tourists
'Provide more accommodation' is more precise and formal.

Task achievement

Band 8.0/ 9

The essay provides a clear overview and covers all major changes shown in the diagram, including the transformation from a fishing town to a tourist resort, changes in facilities, and land use. Some minor details, such as the addition of a car park, could be mentioned for completeness.

Suggestions

Mention the addition of the car park in the present map.
Be more specific about the location of new facilities.
Ensure all significant changes are addressed.

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