Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes in student accommodation building layout between 2010 and now

The plans below show student accommodation buildings from 2010 to now.

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

Student accommodation building in 2010

2010

Main entrance at bottom left
Hallway in the centre
Bathroom in the centre
Kitchen on the right
Living room at top centre
Three student bedrooms
Garden areas at top and bottom

Student accommodation building now

Now

Main entrance at bottom left
Hallway in the centre
Bathroom in the centre
Kitchen/social area on the right
Five student bedrooms
En-suite room at bottom right
Car parking at bottom
Garden at top

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 floor plans illustrate the transformation of a student accommodation building from 2010 to the present day. Overall, the layout has been extensively reconfigured to increase the number of bedrooms, while communal areas have been repurposed or reduced to accommodate these changes.

In 2010, the building featured three student bedrooms, a central bathroom, a kitchen, and a living room. The entrance was located at the bottom left, leading into a hallway. The living room was situated at the top, and there were garden areas at both the top and bottom of the property.

Currently, the building has been expanded to include five student bedrooms, significantly increasing its capacity. The living room has been removed, and the kitchen has been transformed into a combined kitchen and social area. Furthermore, an en-suite room has been added near the bottom right, and a dedicated car parking area has been constructed at the bottom of the site. While the central bathroom and the main entrance remain in their original positions, the overall footprint has been optimised to house more students, reflecting a shift towards higher density living arrangements.

185 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.

reconfigured: arranged in a new or different way
repurposed: adapted for a different use or purpose
transformation: a thorough or dramatic change in form
optimised: made the best or most effective use
capacity: the maximum amount that can be contained
density: the degree of compactness of an area

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The student accommodation has undergone significant structural modifications, primarily involving the conversion of communal living spaces into additional bedrooms and the addition of modern amenities like car parking.

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.