Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes to the ground floor layout of an art gallery

The maps below show the changes in the art gallery's ground floor in 2005 and the present day.

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

Art Gallery 2005

2005

  • Cafe in top-left corner
  • Gallery office below cafe
  • Exhibition room 4 in bottom-left
  • Stairs in top-middle
  • Receptionist area in middle
  • Exhibition room 3 in top-right
  • Exhibition room 2 in middle-right
  • Exhibition room 1 in bottom-right
  • Entrance at bottom-middle

Present day

  • Gallery shop in top-left
  • Vending machine below shop
  • Temporary exhibition below vending machine
  • Children's area in bottom-left
  • Stairs and lift in top-middle
  • Entrance Hall and receptionist in middle
  • Exhibition room 3 in top-right
  • Exhibition room 2 in middle-right
  • Exhibition room 1 in bottom-right
  • Entrance at bottom-middle
  • Ramp for wheelchair 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 maps illustrate the structural transformations of an art gallery's ground floor between 2005 and the present day. Overall, the layout has been extensively reconfigured to improve accessibility and visitor amenities, although the exhibition rooms on the eastern side remain unchanged.

In 2005, the western side of the gallery featured a cafe in the top corner, a gallery office, and a large exhibition room 4. The central area was occupied by a receptionist, with stairs located at the top. By contrast, the present-day layout has replaced these areas with a gallery shop, a vending machine, a temporary exhibition space, and a children's area. Furthermore, the central reception area has been expanded into an entrance hall, and a lift has been installed next to the stairs.

Regarding the eastern side, the configuration of exhibition rooms 1, 2, and 3 has remained consistent throughout the period. However, accessibility has been enhanced in the present day with the addition of a ramp for wheelchairs at the main entrance. These modifications reflect a shift towards prioritizing visitor services and inclusive access over the previous office and cafe-focused arrangement.

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

How to write about maps

reconfigured
arranged in a new or different way
transformations
a thorough or dramatic change in form
amenities
useful or desirable features of a building
consistent
acting or done in the same way
enhanced
intensified, increased, or further improved in quality
inclusive
not excluding any sections of society

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The art gallery has undergone significant structural modifications, primarily replacing the cafe and office with new visitor facilities while maintaining the three exhibition rooms on the right side.

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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