Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Developmental changes in Meadowside village and Fonton town since 1962: 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.
  • 187 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The map below shows the changes that have taken place in Meadowside village and Fonton a neighbouring town since 1962.

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

Changes in Meadowside and Fonton

1962

  • Meadowside village as a small isolated area
  • Fonton town located to the east with a railway line

1985

  • Meadowside village expanded
  • New housing estate added
  • Leisure complex built
  • Superstore constructed
  • New road connecting the areas

NOW

  • Meadowside suburbs significantly enlarged
  • Hotel built near the railway
  • Station added on the railway line
  • Business park constructed near the superstore

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 8187 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided maps illustrate the transformation of Meadowside village and the neighbouring town of Fonton over a period spanning from 1962 to the present day. Overall, it is evident that the area has undergone substantial urbanisation, evolving from a small, isolated village into a sprawling suburban region with enhanced transport links and commercial facilities.

In 1962, Meadowside was a small, distinct village separated from the town of Fonton, which was already served by a railway line. By 1985, the village had expanded significantly. A new housing estate was established, and a leisure complex was constructed. Furthermore, a superstore was added to the south, and a new road was built, connecting the two areas and facilitating better access.

In the current period, the area has been renamed Meadowside Suburbs, reflecting its massive growth. The residential footprint has expanded to encompass the previously separate areas. Significant infrastructure developments include the addition of a railway station and a hotel near the tracks. Additionally, a large business park has been constructed adjacent to the superstore, further cementing the area's transition from a quiet village into a developed commercial and residential hub.

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Write a report, get a band free →

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

  • urbanisation

    the process of making an area more city-like

  • sprawling

    spreading out over a large area in untidy way

  • encompass

    to include or contain within a larger area

  • adjacent

    next to or adjoining something else

  • infrastructure

    basic physical systems like roads and transport links

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The maps illustrate the significant urban expansion of Meadowside village and the development of infrastructure and commercial facilities in the region between 1962 and the present day.

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

© 2026 BandLadder. Written and checked by the BandLadder team. You may quote or cite this page with credit to BandLadder and a link to it; republishing it in full needs our written permission. Content use policy

Write a report, get a band free