Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of the current layout and future development plans for Islip

The maps below show the centre 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

Now

Countryside in the north
Shops on both sides of the main road
Housing in the south
Park in the southeast
School in the southwest

Islip town centre: planned development

Planned development

Dual carriageway encircling the town centre
Bus station, shopping centre, and car park in the north
Pedestrians only zone in the centre
Shops south of the pedestrian zone
New housing and existing housing in the south
Park in the southeast
School in the southwest

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 changes for its future development. Overall, the plan indicates a major restructuring of the town's infrastructure, shifting from a through-road system to a pedestrian-focused centre surrounded by a ring road.

Currently, the town centre is bisected by a main road, with shops located on both sides and housing areas situated to the south. A park is located in the southeast, while a school is positioned in the southwest. The northern part of the area is bordered by countryside.

Under the planned development, the main road will be replaced by a dual carriageway that encircles the town centre. Within this loop, the current shopping area will be converted into a pedestrian-only zone. New facilities, including a bus station, a shopping centre, and a car park, will be constructed in the northern section of this enclosed area. Furthermore, the residential capacity will be expanded with the addition of new housing units, while the existing park and school will remain in their current locations. These changes suggest a move towards a more organised and traffic-free commercial hub.

188 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
encircles: forms a circle around or surrounds something
pedestrianisation: the process of making an area for walkers
restructuring: organising something in a new or different way
situated: fixed or located in a particular place
transformed: changed the appearance or character of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proposed development involves a significant transformation of the town centre, primarily through the construction of a dual carriageway ring road and the pedestrianisation of the main shopping area.

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.