Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes to the ground floor layout of a building over time

The plans below show how the ground floor of a particular building has changed over time.

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

1958-1984 office

1958-1984 office

  • Meeting room top left
  • Assistant's office middle left
  • Secretary's office middle left
  • Toilet bottom left
  • Kitchen top right
  • Manager office middle right
  • Reception area bottom right
  • Entrance bottom center

1985-2000 apartment

  • Living room top left
  • Bathroom and shower bottom left
  • Kitchen top right
  • Bedroom 1 middle right
  • Bedroom 2 bottom right
  • Entrance bottom center

2001-present flower shop

  • Gift cards top left
  • Flower display middle left
  • Play area bottom left
  • Kitchen top right
  • Office middle right
  • Flower display bottom right
  • Entrance bottom center

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 structural evolution of a building across three distinct periods: as an office from 1958 to 1984, an apartment from 1985 to 2000, and finally as a flower shop from 2001 to the present day.

Overall, the building underwent significant structural modifications to accommodate these changing functions. Notably, the kitchen remained in its original location in the top-right corner throughout the entire period, while other areas were repurposed or removed to suit the specific needs of each occupant.

During the office period, the space was partitioned into several small rooms, including a meeting room, an assistant's office, a secretary's office, and a toilet on the left side, with a manager's office and reception area on the right. When converted into an apartment, these internal walls were removed to create larger living spaces. The left side was transformed into a living room and a bathroom, while the right side was divided into two bedrooms, with the kitchen remaining unchanged.

In the final transformation into a flower shop, the layout was further altered. The kitchen was retained, but the rest of the floor was opened up. The left side now features a gift card section, a flower display area, and a play area, while the right side contains an office and an additional flower display area near the entrance.

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

How to write about maps

evolution
the gradual development or change of something over time
repurposed
adapted for a different use or different purpose
partitioned
divided into smaller parts or sections by walls
accommodate
to provide enough space for a specific purpose
transformed
undergone a thorough or dramatic change in form
retained
continued to have or keep something in place

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.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The building underwent significant structural modifications to accommodate three distinct functions, with the kitchen being the only feature to remain in its original position throughout the entire period.

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.

More maps