Academic Writing Task 1 · map

A diagram illustrating the layout of a proposed town development plan

The diagram below shows the proposed town.

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

Proposed Town Plan

Proposed Town

Housing (H) distributed in the outer and inner sectors
Roads (R) forming a cross-shaped intersection
Ring Roads (RR) encircling the central area
Industry located in the top-left and bottom-right corners
Parking (P) situated near the central intersection
Bus stand (B) located near the central intersection
Recreational Areas (shaded) situated in the central and lower-left sectors

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.

Band 8 sample answer

The provided diagram illustrates the layout of a proposed town, highlighting the distribution of various facilities including housing, transport infrastructure, and industrial zones. Overall, the town is designed with a symmetrical structure, featuring a central hub connected by a network of roads and a ring road, while residential and industrial areas are strategically placed in different sectors.

At the heart of the town, there is a central intersection where the main roads meet. This area is supported by essential transport facilities, specifically a bus stand and parking zones. Encircling this central hub is a ring road, which acts as a boundary between the inner residential blocks and the outer sections of the town. Housing units, marked as 'H', are distributed throughout the town, occupying most of the available space in both the inner and outer sectors.

In contrast, industrial zones are confined to two specific areas: the top-left and bottom-right corners of the map. Furthermore, recreational areas, indicated by shaded blocks, are integrated into the central and lower-left parts of the town, providing leisure spaces for residents. The overall design suggests a clear separation between residential, industrial, and transport-related zones to ensure functional efficiency.

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

How to write about 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.

distributed: spread out over a particular area or space
encircling: forming a circle around or surrounding something completely
confined: restricted or limited to a specific area
strategic: planned to achieve a specific long-term goal
integrated: combined with other things to form a whole
functional: designed to be practical and useful rather than attractive

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proposed town plan features a central hub surrounded by a ring road, with residential areas occupying the majority of the space and industrial zones restricted to the periphery.

How long should an IELTS Task 1 answer be?

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 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.