Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of current layout and future development plans for Islip

The maps below show the center of a small town called Islip as it is now and plans for its development.

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

Islip town centre now

Countryside at the north
Main road running east-west
Shops on both sides of the main road
Housing area south of the shops
Park in the southeast
School in the southwest

Islip town centre: planned development

Dual carriageway encircling the town centre
Bus station, shopping centre, and car park in the north
Pedestrians-only zone south of the new facilities
Existing shops retained south of the pedestrian zone
New housing added in the northeast and southeast
Existing housing and school retained in the south
Park relocated to the southeast

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 current layout of Islip town centre and the proposed modifications for its future development. Overall, the town is set to undergo substantial changes, most notably the construction of a dual carriageway encircling the centre and the addition of new amenities.

Currently, the town is bisected by a main road, with shops located on both sides. To the south of these shops lies a residential area, with a park situated in the southeast and a school in the southwest. The area to the north of the shops is designated as countryside.

Under the planned development, the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway that loops around the town centre. Within this loop, the northern section will be redeveloped to include a bus station, a new shopping centre, and a car park. A pedestrian-only zone will be established between these new facilities and the existing shops. Furthermore, new housing units are planned for the northeast and southeast, while the school and original housing in the south will remain. The park will be relocated to the southeast corner of the residential area.

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.

bisected: divided into two parts by a line
encircling: forming a circle around or surrounding something
redeveloped: developed again or improved an existing area
relocated: moved to a new place or position
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
designated: officially assigned a specified status or name

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proposed development for Islip town centre involves a significant transformation of the road network into a dual carriageway and the introduction of new commercial and residential facilities.

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.