Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes in the layout of a school library over five years

The diagrams show how the layout of a school library changed.

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

5 Years Ago

5 Years Ago

  • Book shelves at top and bottom center
  • Studying tables in center
  • Desk for computers at top right
  • Library office at bottom right
  • Classroom at top left
  • Meeting room at middle left
  • Borrowing and returning desk at bottom left
Current Plan

Current Plan

  • Book shelves at top center
  • Private studying tables in center
  • Desks for students' laptops at top right and bottom center
  • Conference room at bottom right
  • Recording studio at top left
  • Meeting room at middle left
  • Borrowing desk at middle-bottom left
  • Returning desk at bottom left

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 diagrams illustrate the structural transformations that have taken place in a school library over a five-year period. Overall, the layout has shifted from a traditional study-oriented space to one that prioritises technology and specialized meeting facilities.

Five years ago, the library featured a classroom, a meeting room, and a combined borrowing and returning desk along the left wall. The central area was occupied by four studying tables, flanked by book shelves at the top and bottom. The right side of the library contained a desk for computers and a library office.

In the current plan, several notable changes are evident. The classroom has been replaced by a recording studio, and the combined borrowing and returning desk has been split into two separate units. The central area now houses six private studying tables, and the bottom book shelves have been replaced by desks for students' laptops. Furthermore, the computer desk area has been expanded to accommodate students' laptops, while the library office has been converted into a conference room. These modifications reflect a clear transition towards modernising the facility to better support digital learning and collaborative work.

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

How to write about maps

transformations
a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance
prioritises
treats something as being more important than others
flanked
situated on each side of or on one side
accommodate
provide lodging or sufficient space for someone or something
modernising
adapting something to modern needs or habits
transition
the process of changing from one state to another

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The library has undergone significant structural modifications, primarily replacing traditional study areas with specialized technology-focused spaces and dividing administrative functions.

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.

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