Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of museum floor plan changes between 1998 and 2008

The picture below shows the plan of a museum in 1998 and after some changes were made to it in 2008.

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

Museum 1998

  • Permanent Exhibition Rooms: large area on left and right
  • Garden: central square
  • Cafe: top middle
  • Temporary Exhibition Room: bottom left
  • TICKETS Entrance/Exit: bottom middle
  • Shop: bottom right
  • WC: bottom right
  • Bags and Coats: bottom right

Museum 2008

  • Permanent Exhibition Rooms: reduced area on right
  • Garden: central area with fountains
  • Cafe: top middle
  • Cafe sitting area: middle left
  • WC: top middle
  • Restaurant: top left
  • Temporary Exhibition Room: middle left
  • TICKETS Entrance/Exit: bottom middle
  • Shop: bottom middle
  • Bags and Coats: 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 diagrams illustrate the layout of a museum in 1998 and the subsequent modifications implemented by 2008. Overall, the museum underwent significant structural changes, primarily focusing on the expansion of visitor amenities and the reconfiguration of exhibition spaces.

In 1998, the museum featured large permanent exhibition rooms occupying both the left and right sides of the building, with a central garden. The entrance was located at the bottom middle, flanked by a temporary exhibition room on the left and a shop, toilets, and a cloakroom on the right. The cafe was situated at the top of the central garden.

By 2008, the layout had been substantially altered. The permanent exhibition space was reduced, now confined to the right side of the building. A new restaurant was added in the top-left corner, and the cafe was expanded to include a dedicated sitting area adjacent to the garden, which now featured fountains. Furthermore, the entrance area was reorganized; the shop was moved to the bottom-left, while the cloakroom was relocated to the bottom-left corner. These changes reflect a shift towards enhancing visitor comfort and dining facilities at the expense of exhibition floor space.

192 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
substantially
to a great or significant extent
confined
restricted to a particular area or space
adjacent
next to or adjoining something else
relocated
moved to a new place or position
modifications
small changes made to improve or adjust

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The museum underwent significant structural modifications over the decade, most notably the expansion of visitor amenities and the reduction of space dedicated to permanent exhibitions.

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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