Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes in the layout of a school library over five years: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 map question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about maps.
  • 188 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The diagrams show how the layout of a school library changed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

5 Years Ago

5 Years Ago

  • Book shelves at top and bottom center
  • Studying tables in center
  • Desk for computers at top right
  • Library office at bottom right
  • Classroom at top left
  • Meeting room at middle left
  • Borrowing and returning desk at bottom left
Current Plan

Current Plan

  • Book shelves at top center
  • Private studying tables in center
  • Desks for students' laptops at top right and bottom center
  • Conference room at bottom right
  • Recording studio at top left
  • Meeting room at middle left
  • Borrowing desk at middle-bottom left
  • Returning desk at bottom left

Chart redrawn by BandLadder from the data in the original IELTS practice task. Many IELTS practice tasks come from the Cambridge IELTS series (Cambridge University Press & Assessment); all rights in the original tasks remain with their owners.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8188 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided diagrams illustrate the structural transformations that have taken place in a school library over a five-year period. Overall, the layout has shifted from a traditional study-oriented space to one that prioritises technology and specialized meeting facilities.

Five years ago, the library featured a classroom, a meeting room, and a combined borrowing and returning desk along the left wall. The central area was occupied by four studying tables, flanked by book shelves at the top and bottom. The right side of the library contained a desk for computers and a library office.

In the current plan, several notable changes are evident. The classroom has been replaced by a recording studio, and the combined borrowing and returning desk has been split into two separate units. The central area now houses six private studying tables, and the bottom book shelves have been replaced by desks for students' laptops. Furthermore, the computer desk area has been expanded to accommodate students' laptops, while the library office has been converted into a conference room. These modifications reflect a clear transition towards modernising the facility to better support digital learning and collaborative work.

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Maps

How to write about maps: tips and vocabulary

  • →Overview: how much the area changed and what stayed the same.
  • →Use location language: to the north of, adjacent to, replaced by.
  • →Group changes by area or by type, such as housing, roads and green space.
  • transformations

    a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance

  • prioritises

    treats something as being more important than others

  • flanked

    situated on each side of or on one side

  • accommodate

    provide lodging or sufficient space for someone or something

  • modernising

    adapting something to modern needs or habits

  • transition

    the process of changing from one state to another

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The library has undergone significant structural modifications, primarily replacing traditional study areas with specialized technology-focused spaces and dividing administrative functions.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

At least 150 words; 170 to 200 is the safe range. Spend about 20 minutes on it and leave 40 for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.

How is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

How do I describe maps?+

Overview: how much the area changed and what stayed the same. Use location language: to the north of, adjacent to, replaced by. Group changes by area or by type, such as housing, roads and green space.

Keep practising

More maps

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