Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of a health center layout between 2005 and today

Plan A below shows a health center in 2005. Plan B shows the same place in the present day.

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

Health center layout in 2005 and present day

2005

  • Entrance at the bottom
  • Reception desk in the center
  • Office on the left
  • Physiotherapy room at the top right
  • CR1 and CR2 on the right
  • CR3 on the bottom left
  • Garden at the top
  • Car parking with 12 spaces

Present Day

  • Entrance moved to the left side
  • Reception desk in the center
  • Children's play area near the entrance
  • Office on the left
  • Minor operations room at the top left
  • Physiotherapy room at the top right
  • CR1, CR2, CR3, and CR4 on the right and bottom
  • Garden at the top
  • Car parking with 30 spaces

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 plans illustrate the transformation of a health center from 2005 to the present day. Overall, the facility has expanded considerably, with the addition of new medical rooms and a larger car park to accommodate more visitors.

In 2005, the health center featured a central reception desk, an office, a physiotherapy room, and three consulting rooms (CR1, CR2, and CR3). The entrance was located at the bottom, and the car park provided 12 spaces. A garden was situated at the rear of the building.

By the present day, the layout has been extensively modified. The entrance has been relocated to the left side, and a children's play area has been incorporated near the reception desk. The number of consulting rooms has increased to four, and a minor operations room has been added at the top left. While the physiotherapy room remains in its original position, the car parking capacity has more than doubled, rising from 12 to 30 spaces. Despite these internal changes, the garden area remains at the top of the site, maintaining the original exterior footprint.

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

How to write about maps

transformation
a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance
expanded
become larger in size, volume, or quantity
relocated
moved to a new place and established there
incorporated
taken in or included as part of a whole
doubled
consisting of two equal, identical, or similar parts
maintained
kept in the same state or condition

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The health center has undergone significant structural expansion and modernization, most notably through the addition of new rooms and a substantial increase in car parking capacity.

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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