Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Bell Hill Farm in 1976 and 2006

The picture below shows Bell Hill Farm in 1976 and the changes that took place in 2006.

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

Bell Hill Farm (1976)

1976

storage for farm machinery in the top left
barn for corn in the top middle
cow sheds in the top right
farmyard in the centre
farmhouse in the lower centre
chicken area in the middle right

Environment Centre (2006)

2006

parking area in the top left
multimedia room in the top middle
recreation area in the centre
student housing in the top right
farmhouse in the lower centre

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 significant structural changes that occurred at Bell Hill Farm between 1976 and 2006, as it transitioned into an environment centre. Overall, the site shifted from an agricultural focus to an educational facility, with the farmhouse being the only original structure preserved.

In 1976, the farm was primarily dedicated to agricultural activities. The layout included storage for machinery in the top left, a barn for corn in the top middle, and cow sheds located in the top right. A farmyard occupied the central area, with a farmhouse situated in the lower centre and a chicken area positioned to the right of the farmhouse.

By 2006, these agricultural features had been entirely replaced. The storage area was converted into a parking zone, while the barn and cow sheds were replaced by a multimedia room and student housing, respectively. The central farmyard was repurposed into a recreation area. Notably, the farmhouse remained in its original location in the lower centre, serving as the only link to the site's previous identity. The overall layout reflects a shift towards modern institutional use rather than traditional farming.

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

How to write about 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.

transitioned: underwent a process of changing from one state
repurposed: adapted for a different use or purpose
preserved: maintained in its original or existing state
transformed: underwent a thorough or dramatic change in form
repositioned: placed in a new or different location
notably: in a way that is worthy of attention

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The site underwent a complete transformation from a functional agricultural farm into an educational environment centre, with only the farmhouse remaining unchanged.

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.