IELTS Academic Writing — Practice Test 6
Task 1: two maps (change over time) · Task 2: a positive / negative development essay. Write both answers, get an indicative band estimate, then compare with three model answers (Band 9, 7 and 5–6) — each explained in Bangla — and grade yourself on the four official criteria. টাস্ক ১: মানচিত্রের পরিবর্তন · টাস্ক ২: ইতিবাচক/নেতিবাচক পরিবর্তন।
How this works — কীভাবে দেবে
- You have 60 minutes: about 20 min on Task 1 (min. 150 words) and 40 min on Task 2 (min. 250 words). Task 2 counts double. টাস্ক ১-এ ~২০ মিনিট, টাস্ক ২-এ ~৪০ মিনিট।
- Write your own answer, then press “Estimate my band”. লিখে “Estimate my band” চাপো।
- The estimate is a rough computer guide — it cannot judge meaning or grammar accuracy. Use the model answers and checklist as your main guide. স্কোর আনুমানিক; মডেল উত্তর ও চেকলিস্টই মূল ভরসা।
- Hover the red-dashed words for meaning. Your writing is saved in this browser. লাল-ড্যাশ শব্দে মাউস রাখো; লেখা সেভ থাকে।
Writing Task 1
Spend about 20 minutes · Write at least 150 words · Maps (change over time)
The two maps below show a coastal town called Seaview in 1990 and in the present day.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The town of Seaview: 1990 and now
💡 How to describe maps + useful language · গঠন ও ভাষা
Plan: Introduction (paraphrase) → Overview (how the place changed overall — more built-up? more modern?) → Body 1 (changes in one area, e.g. by the sea) → Body 2 (changes elsewhere). Use the past passive for changes.
- Change (passive):
was built / constructed,was replaced by,was demolished / removed,was converted into,was extended / enlarged - No change:
remained,was retained,stayed the same - Location:
in the north / south / east / west,to the north of,next to,along the coast - Compare:
whereas,while,in 1990 … but now …
✅ Show 3 model answers (Band 9 / 7 / 5–6) + Bangla explanations try your own first!
See how the same changes are described more skilfully from Band 5 to Band 9. একই পরিবর্তন ব্যান্ড ৫ থেকে ৯-এ কীভাবে বর্ণিত হয় দেখো।
Band 9 185 words
The two maps illustrate the changes that took place in a coastal town called Seaview between 1990 and the present day.
Overall, Seaview has developed from a small, quiet settlement into a busier, more modern town, largely as a result of building for tourism and housing. While the main road running through the centre has been retained, most of the older and natural features have been replaced by new facilities.
The most striking change has occurred by the sea. In 1990, there was only a small harbour in the north, but this has since been greatly enlarged into a marina, and a pier has been built out into the sea. To the south-west, the small cluster of houses that existed in 1990 has expanded considerably, with many more homes added.
In addition, the forest that once stood in the south-east has been cleared to make way for a large shopping centre, beside which a car park has been constructed. Finally, a new road has been built running south to serve these developments.
Band 7 154 words
The two maps show how a coastal town called Seaview changed between 1990 and now.
Overall, Seaview has become much more developed and modern. Many of the old and natural features have gone, and new buildings for tourism and housing have been built.
In 1990, there was a small harbour by the sea in the north of the town. Now, this harbour has been made much bigger and it is a marina, and a new pier has been built into the sea. In the south-west, there were only a few houses in 1990, but now there are many more houses because the town has grown.
Also, in 1990 there was a forest in the south-east. This forest has been removed, and now there is a big shopping centre there, with a car park next to it. In addition, a new road has been built in the south of the town.
Band 5–6 133 words
The two map show a coastal town Seaview in 1990 and now. The town is change a lot in this time.
In 1990 there is a small harbour in the north near the sea. Now the harbour become big and it is a marina and also there is a new pier in the sea. In the south west in 1990 there is only few house but now there is many house because the town grow.
Also in 1990 there is a forest in the south east. Now the forest is remove and there is a big shopping center and a car park. And a new road is build in the south.
So the town become more modern now.
| Criterion | Band 5–6 | Band 7 | Band 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | brief | clear | clear & insightful |
| Past passive | often wrong | mostly correct | accurate, varied |
| Location language | basic | adequate | precise & natural |
| Length | below 150 (penalised) | meets 150+ | ideal 160–190 |
Writing Task 2
Spend about 40 minutes · Write at least 250 words · Positive or negative development
Write about the following topic:
Nowadays, many people choose to spend their free time using social media rather than meeting friends in person. Is this a positive or a negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
💡 How to structure Task 2 + useful language · গঠন ও ভাষা
Plan: Introduction (paraphrase + state clearly whether you think it is positive or negative) → Body 1 (the other side, briefly and fairly) → Body 2 (your side, more fully) → Conclusion (restate your view). Take a clear position — positive or negative — and defend it. ইতিবাচক না নেতিবাচক — স্পষ্টভাবে বেছে নাও ও যুক্তি দাও।
- Position:
In my view, this is a largely positive/negative development,On balance, - Concede:
Admittedly,It is true that…,although - Counter:
However,Nevertheless,the drawbacks are more serious
✅ Show 3 model essays (Band 9 / 7 / 5–6) + Bangla explanations try your own first!
Notice how a clear positive/negative position is taken and defended more strongly as the band rises. স্পষ্ট অবস্থান কীভাবে জোরালোভাবে রক্ষা করা হয় দেখো।
Band 9 285 words
It is undeniable that social media now occupies a large part of many people’s leisure time, often at the expense of meeting friends face to face. Although this shift has some benefits, I believe that, on balance, it is a negative development.
Admittedly, there are arguments in favour of spending free time online. Social media allows people to stay in touch with friends and relatives who live far away, something that would once have been difficult and expensive. A person working abroad, for instance, can see photographs of a family event within seconds, which can strengthen relationships across great distances.
However, the drawbacks of replacing real meetings with online interaction are, in my view, more serious. Firstly, digital communication is a poor substitute for genuine human contact. A message or a “like” can never convey the warmth of a shared meal or a real conversation, and people who rely too heavily on screens often report feeling lonelier, not less lonely. Secondly, excessive use of social media can harm both mental and physical health. Constantly comparing oneself with the carefully edited lives of others can damage self-esteem, while hours spent sitting and scrolling contribute to an inactive lifestyle.
In conclusion, while social media undoubtedly makes it easier to stay connected over long distances, its tendency to replace real friendships with shallow online contact is worrying. For this reason, I regard the trend of choosing screens over face-to-face meetings as a largely negative development, and one that people should consciously try to resist.
Band 7 256 words
Nowadays, many people spend their free time on social media instead of meeting their friends in person. In my opinion, this is a negative development, although it has some good points.
There are some advantages of using social media in your free time. The main advantage is that it helps people stay in contact with friends and family who live far away. For example, if someone works in another country, they can see photos and messages from their family very quickly. This can make the relationship stronger even when people are far apart.
However, I think the disadvantages are more important. Firstly, talking on social media is not the same as meeting someone in real life. A message or a “like” cannot give the same feeling as spending time together, and many people who use social media too much feel more lonely, not less. Secondly, using social media too much is bad for health. When people always compare their life with other people’s perfect photos, they can feel sad and lose confidence. Also, sitting and looking at the phone for many hours is not good for the body.
In conclusion, although social media is useful for keeping in contact with people who are far away, I believe that using it instead of meeting friends is a negative development, because it makes people lonely and can harm their health. People should try to spend more time with friends in person.
Band 5–6 228 words
Now a days many people spend their free time in the social media instead of meet their friend in person. In my opinion this is a negative development but it have some good point also.
There is some advantage of the social media. The main advantage is it help people to keep contact with the friend and family who live far. For example if someone work in other country he can see the photo and message of his family very fast. So the relation become strong even they are far.
But i think the disadvantage is more important. First is talking in social media is not same like meeting in real life. A message or a like can not give the same feeling of spending time together, and many people who use it too much feel more lonely. Second is too much social media is bad for the health. When people compare their life with other people perfect photo they feel sad and lose the confidence. Also sitting and looking the phone many hour is not good for body.
In conclusion, although social media is useful for the people who are far, i believe using it instead of meet the friend is negative because it make people lonely and harm the health. So people should spend more time with friend.
| Criterion | Band 5–6 | Band 7 | Band 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position | clear but simple | clear | clear & strongly defended |
| Development | ideas thin | both sides + example | fully developed |
| Grammar | frequent errors | mostly accurate | error-free, varied |
| Vocabulary | simple, repeated | good range | wide, precise |
Grade yourself — the 4 official criteria
Tick each statement that is true of your writing. Task 2 counts double. প্রতিটি সত্য বাক্যে টিক দাও।