IELTS with Mujahid · Academic Writing

Full Writing Test — Task 1 & Task 2

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Writing Task 1 ≈ 20 minutes
The maps below show an industrial area in the town of Norbiton, and planned future development of the site.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Norbiton Industrial Area — Now
N S W E Farmland River Town = Factory
Planned Future Development
Farmland River Town Shop Medical Centre Playground School = Housing
Maps simplified and redrawn from the printed source for practice purposes; spatial layout and relative positions are preserved.

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Your Response — Task 1
Writing Task 2 ≈ 40 minutes
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.
Question type: Advantages/Disadvantages + Opinion (which outweighs)

This isn't a neutral "discuss both sides" essay — you must ultimately judge which side is stronger. Cover both advantages and disadvantages of risk-taking, but make sure your final verdict (advantages outweigh disadvantages, or vice versa) is clearly signalled early and maintained throughout, not just tacked onto the conclusion.

Before you finish, check that you have —

Your Response — Task 2

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Band 7+ Model Answers

Compare your response against a high-band sample — don't aim to copy it, use it to see how ideas are organised and supported.

The two maps illustrate the current layout of an industrial area in Norbiton and how the site is planned to be redeveloped in the future.

Overall, the site will be transformed from a purely industrial zone into a more residential and community-focused area, with several factories being replaced by housing, a school, and other public amenities, while the central roundabout remains the site's key structural feature in both versions.

Currently, the area is dominated by factory buildings arranged around a central roundabout, with clusters located to the southwest and along the road leading east. A river runs along the northern edge of the site, bordered by farmland, and a road connects the roundabout southwards to the town.

In the planned development, most of these factories will be removed and replaced with housing, including a new block built on the far side of the river, accessible via a new bridge that will extend the northern road across the water. A shop and a medical centre will be added southwest and south of the roundabout respectively, while a playground and a school will be built to the east, alongside further housing. A small additional roundabout will also be introduced where the southern road meets the town's main road.

≈ 215 words · Overview + before/after paragraphs + spatial comparison language

Risk-taking, whether in one's career or personal life, is often seen as essential for growth and success. In my opinion, the advantages of taking risks clearly outweigh the disadvantages, provided the risks are reasonably calculated.

There are undeniable benefits to taking risks. In professional life, individuals who accept new challenges, such as changing careers, starting a business, or relocating for a better opportunity, often achieve greater success and personal fulfilment than those who remain in their comfort zone. Many of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, for instance, took considerable financial risks before achieving their breakthroughs. Similarly, in personal life, taking risks such as travelling alone, pursuing an unconventional relationship, or learning a new skill can lead to significant personal growth and self-confidence that would be impossible to gain through caution alone.

That said, risk-taking is not without genuine drawbacks. Poorly judged risks can result in financial ruin, damaged relationships, or missed opportunities elsewhere, and not every gamble pays off. However, these disadvantages generally stem from reckless or poorly considered risks rather than risk-taking itself. When risks are carefully weighed against potential rewards, the probability of long-term benefit tends to be far greater than the probability of serious harm.

In conclusion, while risk-taking inevitably carries some danger of failure, the potential rewards, whether measured in career advancement, personal growth, or life experience, generally make it a worthwhile pursuit, and I firmly believe its advantages outweigh its disadvantages.

≈ 260 words · Clear early verdict + balanced advantages/disadvantages + firm conclusion

Rough Notes