Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Pacific Railway Station layout between 1998 and now

The maps show Pacific Railway Station station in 1998 and now.

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

Pacific Railway Station in 1998

1998

Toilets located in the top-left area
Two sets of railway platforms on the right side
Cafe, shop, and ticket office located in the bottom-right area

Now

Two sets of railway platforms with trains, one on the left and one on the right
Central area containing a restaurant and two shops
Supermarket located in the bottom-left area
Cafe and ticket office located in the bottom-right area

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 structural changes made to the Pacific Railway Station between 1998 and the present day. Overall, the station has undergone significant expansion and modernisation, shifting from a simple layout with basic facilities to a more complex hub featuring a supermarket, restaurant, and additional retail space.

In 1998, the station was relatively sparse. The main facilities, consisting of a cafe, a shop, and a ticket office, were clustered in the bottom-right corner. To the north of this area were two sets of railway platforms. Additionally, a toilet block was situated in the top-left section of the site, leaving a large portion of the area undeveloped.

By contrast, the current layout shows a much more developed station. The railway infrastructure has expanded, with platforms now positioned on both the left and right sides of the site. A new central block has been constructed between the tracks, housing a restaurant and two shops. Furthermore, the original toilet block has been replaced by a large supermarket in the bottom-left corner. The cafe and ticket office remain in the bottom-right area, though the shop has been relocated to the central complex.

190 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.

undergone: experienced or been subjected to a significant change
modernisation: the process of adapting something to current standards
sparse: thinly dispersed or lacking in quantity or density
clustered: grouped closely together in a small area
by contrast: used to highlight a difference between two things
relocated: moved to a new place or different position

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The station has undergone significant expansion and modernisation, shifting from a simple layout with basic facilities to a more complex hub featuring a supermarket, restaurant, and additional retail space.

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.