Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Town Centre Layouts Between 1990 and the Present: 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.
  • 181 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The maps below show a town center in 1990 and the same town center today.

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

Town Centre - 1990

1990

  • Newsagent's, Grocer's, Baker's, Butcher's, Café, Children centre, Bank along the north side
  • Park, Library, Town Hall, Bank along the south side
  • Houses along Green Street

Now

  • Shopping mall, Children centre, Bank along the north side
  • Park, Library, Town Hall, Café along the south side
  • Apartment Block along the south side

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 8181 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided maps illustrate the transformation of a town centre between 1990 and the present day. Overall, the area has experienced substantial redevelopment, characterised by the centralisation of retail facilities and a shift in residential housing types.

In 1990, the northern side of the town centre featured a row of small independent businesses, including a newsagent's, grocer's, baker's, butcher's, and a café, alongside a children centre and a bank. Today, these smaller shops have been replaced by a single, large shopping mall, while the children centre and bank remain in their original positions. On the southern side, the park, library, and town hall have been preserved, although the bank that was previously located on the far right has been converted into a café.

Furthermore, the residential area along Green Street, which consisted of individual houses in 1990, has been completely redeveloped into a modern apartment block. Additionally, the road layout has been modified, with the introduction of pedestrianised zones and new crossing points, reflecting a shift towards a more pedestrian-friendly environment compared to the vehicle-dominated layout observed in the 1990 map.

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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.
  • transformation

    a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance

  • redevelopment

    the process of developing an area of land again

  • centralisation

    the concentration of control or activity under one authority

  • preserved

    maintained in its original or existing state

  • pedestrianised

    an area where vehicles are prohibited to allow walking

  • characterised

    to describe the distinctive nature or features of something

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The town centre has undergone significant structural changes, most notably the consolidation of small shops into a large shopping mall and the replacement of residential houses with apartment blocks.

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

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