Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of the current college layout and the 2020 redevelopment plan

The diagrams below show the present building of a college and the plan for changes to the college site in the future.

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

Present college

Car park on the left
Footpath along the left side
Garden with trees at the top
Entrance at the top
Lunch area in the top-left
Classroom in the top-right
Reception in the middle-right
Library in the bottom-right
Classroom in the middle-left
Classroom in the bottom-left
Toilets in the bottom-middle
Bus stop at the bottom

Plan in 2020

Expanded car park on the left
Shop in the top-left
Toilets in the top-middle
Classroom in the top-right
Lunch area in the middle-left
Classroom in the middle-right
Classroom in the middle-left
Reception in the centre
Classroom in the bottom-right
Library in the bottom-left
Classroom in the bottom-right
Entrance at the bottom
Bus stop at the bottom

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 current layout of a college and the proposed modifications scheduled for 2020. Overall, the college is set to undergo extensive structural changes, most notably the relocation of the entrance and the expansion of the car parking facilities.

Currently, the college features an entrance at the top, adjacent to a garden, with a lunch area and a single classroom occupying the upper section. The central and lower areas house a reception, a library, two classrooms, and toilets. A footpath runs along the left side, separating the building from the car park, while a bus stop is situated at the bottom near the road.

In the 2020 plan, the car park will be enlarged, and the footpath will be removed. The entrance will be moved from the top to the bottom, facing the road. Internally, the layout will be transformed: a shop will be added in the top-left, and the reception will be relocated to the centre. Furthermore, the number of classrooms will increase, with new ones replacing the former garden and library spaces, while the library and toilets will be repositioned to the bottom-left and top-middle, respectively.

191 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.

reconfiguration: The process of changing the arrangement of something
relocation: The act of moving something to a new place
adjacent: Next to or adjoining something else
repositioned: Placed or arranged in a different position
extensive: Covering or affecting a large area
transformed: Changed completely in appearance or structure

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proposed 2020 plan involves a significant expansion of the car park and a complete reconfiguration of the internal building layout, including the relocation of the main entrance.

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.