Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of the layout of a medical centre between 2008 and 2010

The diagram below shows the plan of a medical center in 2008 and 2010.

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

Medical Centre 2008

2008

Treatment Room on the top left
Three Doctor's Offices in the top middle
Corridor running horizontally
Staff office and Reception in the centre
Waiting Room on the bottom left
Laboratory on the bottom right
Main Entrance at the bottom

2010

Treatment Room on the top left
Four Doctor's Offices in the top middle
Store Room on the top right
Corridor extended horizontally
Staff office and Reception in the centre
Education Room and Mother and Child Room on the bottom left
Waiting Room in the bottom centre
Pharmacy on the middle right
Laboratory on the bottom right
Main Entrance 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 structural changes made to a medical centre between 2008 and 2010. Overall, the facility experienced substantial growth, with the floor plan becoming more complex due to the addition of several new rooms and the extension of the central corridor.

In 2008, the centre featured a treatment room, three doctor's offices, a staff office, a reception, a waiting room, and a laboratory. By 2010, the layout had been significantly modified. The number of doctor's offices increased from three to four, and a new store room was added at the end of the extended corridor. Furthermore, the waiting room was relocated towards the centre of the building to accommodate new facilities on the left side, specifically an education room and a mother and child room.

Additional changes included the introduction of a pharmacy, which was positioned between the staff office and the laboratory on the right side of the building. While the main entrance and the treatment room remained in their original positions, the overall footprint of the medical centre expanded to incorporate these new amenities, reflecting a broader range of services provided to patients by 2010.

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.

underwent: experienced or was subjected to a process
reconfiguration: the process of changing the arrangement of parts
substantial: of considerable importance, size, or worth
accommodate: to provide sufficient space for something
relocated: moved to a new place or position
incorporate: to take in or contain as part of

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The medical centre underwent significant expansion between 2008 and 2010, characterized by the addition of several new rooms and the reconfiguration of existing facilities.

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.