Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of the current layout and future development plans for Islip: 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 maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development.

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

Islip town centre now

Now

  • Countryside in the north
  • Shops on both sides of the main road
  • Housing in the south
  • Park in the southeast
  • School in the southwest
Islip town centre: planned development

Planned development

  • Dual carriageway encircling the town centre
  • Bus station, shopping centre, and car park in the north
  • Pedestrians only zone in the centre
  • Shops south of the pedestrian zone
  • New housing and existing housing in the south
  • Park in the southeast
  • School in the southwest

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 maps illustrate the current layout of Islip town centre and the proposed changes for its future development. Overall, the plan indicates a major restructuring of the town's infrastructure, shifting from a through-road system to a pedestrian-focused centre surrounded by a ring road.

Currently, the town centre is bisected by a main road, with shops located on both sides and housing areas situated to the south. A park is located in the southeast, while a school is positioned in the southwest. The northern part of the area is bordered by countryside.

Under the planned development, the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway that encircles the town centre. Within this loop, the current shopping area will be converted into a pedestrian-only zone. New facilities, including a bus station, a shopping centre, and a car park, will be constructed in the northern section of this enclosed area. Furthermore, the residential capacity will be expanded with the addition of new housing units, while the existing park and school will remain in their current locations. These changes suggest a move towards a more organised and traffic-free commercial hub.

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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.
  • bisected

    divided into two parts by a line

  • encircles

    forms a circle around or surrounds something

  • pedestrianisation

    the process of making an area for walkers

  • restructuring

    organising something in a new or different way

  • situated

    fixed or located in a particular place

  • transformed

    changed the appearance or character of something

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The proposed development involves a significant transformation of the town centre, primarily through the construction of a dual carriageway ring road and the pedestrianisation of the main shopping area.

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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