Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Porth Harbour development between the year 2000 and today

The plans below show a harbor in 2000 and how it looks today.

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

Porth Harbour (in 2000)

2000

  • Main road on the west
  • Showers and toilets north-west
  • Car park south of showers
  • Marina for private yachts north-east of car park
  • Fishing boats south of marina
  • Dock with passenger ferries in the north-east
  • Public beach in the north-east
  • Lifeboat station on the central pier
  • Disused castle on the eastern peninsula
  • Public beach south of the castle
Porth Harbour (today)

Today

  • Main road on the west
  • Showers and toilets north-west
  • Car park south of showers
  • Fishing boats north-east of car park
  • Second set of showers and toilets south of car park
  • Second car park south of new showers
  • Marina for private yachts east of new facilities
  • Dock with passenger ferries in the north-east
  • Public beach in the north-east
  • Cafés and shops on the central pier
  • Lifeboat station on the central pier
  • Hotel on the eastern peninsula
  • Private beach for the hotel south of the peninsula

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 maps illustrate the transformation of Porth Harbour from 2000 to the present day. Overall, the harbour has seen extensive development, shifting from a primarily functional maritime site to a more tourist-oriented destination with enhanced amenities.

In 2000, the western side of the harbour featured a single car park and a block of showers and toilets, while the central pier housed only a lifeboat station. The eastern peninsula was occupied by a disused castle, and the public beach was accessible to all. The marina for private yachts was located north of the fishing boats, and the dock for passenger ferries remained in the north-east.

Today, the infrastructure has expanded considerably. A second car park and an additional set of showers and toilets have been constructed to the south of the original facilities. The fishing boats and marina have swapped positions, with the marina now located further south. Notably, the central pier now includes a row of cafés and shops alongside the lifeboat station. Furthermore, the disused castle has been converted into a hotel, and the adjacent public beach has been designated as a private beach for hotel guests.

188 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
amenities
useful or desirable features of a building or place
occupied
resided in or filled a specific space or area
converted
changed the form, character, or function of something
adjacent
next to or adjoining something else very closely
designated
officially assigned a specified status or name

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The harbour has undergone significant commercial expansion, including the addition of new tourist facilities and the conversion of the disused castle into a hotel.

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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