Cambridge IELTS 17 Academic Writing Practice Test 1

IELTS Cambridge Book 17 Academic Writing Practice Test 1 with Sample Answers and Free PDF Download.

IELTS 17 Academic Writing Practice Test 1, Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The maps below show an industrial area in the town of Norbiton, and the planned future development of the site.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Norbiton Industrial Area Now and Planned Future Development

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.0 score.

The two maps illustrate the Norbiton area as it currently exists and the proposed future developments.

Overall, the Norbiton industrial area is situated on the east side of the town, with a river to the north that separates the farmland from the industrial zone. The industrial area, located centrally on the map, is represented by a few factory buildings and roads, with the main road running along the extreme south of the map.

The planned development shows substantial growth and modifications to the overall infrastructure between the farmland and the main road. Firstly, the planned development replaces the existing factories with housing. Moreover, the roads have been developed to accommodate all the new buildings planned for the area, including a school and a playground to the east of the roundabout located in the center of the map, as well as shops and a medical center around the roundabout. Secondly, a bridge is planned for the north of the map, crossing the river to provide access to the housing that will be located on the farmland.

Examiner’s Comments:

This response covers the key changes to be made to the industrial area, although more detail could be provided, for example, about the housing to the west of the roundabout. There is an overview in the second paragraph, and the response could be improved by adding a summary of the main changes.

Ideas are arranged coherently, with some effective use of cohesive devices like “what once were,” sequencing adverbs like “Firstly” and “Secondly,” and appropriate referencing (“which,” “that”). There is some less common vocabulary, but spelling is often inaccurate (“acomodate / accommodate,” “biuldings / buildings”), and word formation is incorrect (“substantially growth / substantial growth”).

To achieve a higher score, the candidate would need to reduce the number of errors in vocabulary and sentence structure.

IELTS 17 Academic Writing Practice Test 1, Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

It is important for people to take risks, both in their professional lives and their personal lives.

Do you think the advantages of taking risks outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Sample Writing Answer:

This is an answer written by a candidate who achieved a Band 6.5 score.

It is often said that taking risks brings many benefits. However, it also comes with some drawbacks.

First of all, it is obvious that taking risks can lead to significant losses if people fail. In personal life, this loss might not be as harmful. However, in professional life, it can be really harmful because people take responsibility not only for themselves but also for others, such as colleagues, customers, and their families. It can even damage society from an economic perspective.

On the other hand, taking risks can offer substantial benefits. Firstly, it teaches people how to prepare for a goal through the process. In order to achieve their aim, people will make every effort to think critically and try to find more efficient ways to succeed. If they do this in professional settings, they will recognize the importance of responsibility and cooperation.

Additionally, taking risks can be meaningful even if the goal is not achieved. People can learn from their failures, understand why they did not succeed, and figure out how to improve. This failure can enable them to enhance their skills and achieve their objectives in the future.

As mentioned, taking risks has both advantages and disadvantages. However, it can be argued that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks because the advantages are not only in the results but also in the process of taking risks.

Examiner’s Comments:

This response discusses the advantages and disadvantages of taking risks, with much greater emphasis on risks in professional life. Since this response is below 250 words (it is only 242), more could be added to include risks in personal life along with specific examples of risks that people commonly take.

There is a clear progression through the response, and ideas are logically organized; disadvantages are presented first, followed by advantages. Cohesive devices are used, although somewhat mechanically, with examples at the start of most sentences (“First of all,” “However,” “On the other hand,” “Firstly”). Referencing is generally appropriate (“it,” “this loss,” “they,” “the failure”). The first paragraph is very short, and paragraphing is not entirely logical.

Vocabulary is effective, with some less common items (“damage society,” “receive huge benefits,” “enable,” “obtain advantages … from the process”). Occasional errors remain (“object / objective,” “point / perspective”). Sentence structure is good, with frequent error-free sentences, and there is a variety of complex structures, including conditionals (“if”), though a few errors remain.

To improve this response, the candidate should ensure it reaches the 250-word count and provides concrete examples of risks.