Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Changes to the South Wing of Walton Museum between 2008 and 2012

The pictures below show the plan for Walton Museum in 2008 and the plan in 2012 after it was redeveloped.

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

Walton Museum South Wing Plans

2008

  • Path to the left
  • Entrance leading to Reception and Reading Room
  • Special Exhibition Room on the bottom left
  • Shop in the middle
  • Cloaks Room on the bottom right
  • Stairs between Shop and Cloaks Room

2012

  • Path to the left
  • Terrace above Entrance Hall
  • Special Exhibition Room on the bottom left
  • Entrance Hall in the middle left
  • Shop in the middle center
  • Reception and Cloaks Room above Shop
  • Restaurant above Reception and Cloaks Room
  • Lift in the center
  • Children Play Area on the bottom right
  • Reading Room above Children Play Area
  • Self-service Room above Reading Room
  • Exhibition Room at the top right

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 modifications made to the south wing of Walton Museum between 2008 and 2012. Overall, the museum experienced a substantial increase in floor space and the introduction of several new facilities, facilitated by the construction of a new vertical section.

In 2008, the layout was relatively simple, consisting of a single-story structure. The entrance led directly to a reception area, with a reading room situated behind it. The ground level housed a special exhibition room on the left, a shop in the centre, and a cloaks room on the right, with stairs providing access between the shop and the cloaks room.

By 2012, the building had been significantly expanded. A new vertical section was added, featuring a lift that connected four distinct levels: a children’s play area at the bottom, a reading room above it, a self-service room, and an exhibition room at the top. The original ground floor was reconfigured to include an entrance hall with an outdoor terrace above it, while the reception and cloaks room were combined into a single space above the shop. Additionally, a restaurant was established on the level above the reception area, completing the comprehensive redevelopment of the wing.

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

How to write about maps

reconfiguration
The process of changing the arrangement of something
substantial
Of considerable importance, size, or worth
facilitated
Made an action or process easier to perform
redeveloped
Developed an area of land or building again
situated
Located in a particular place or position
comprehensive
Including all or nearly all elements of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The museum underwent significant structural expansion and internal reconfiguration between 2008 and 2012, most notably through the addition of a multi-level vertical section.

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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