Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Town Centre Layouts Between 1990 and the Present

The maps below show a town center in 1990 and the same town center today.

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

Town Centre - 1990

1990

Newsagent's, Grocer's, Baker's, Butcher's, Café, Children centre, Bank along the north side
Park, Library, Town Hall, Bank along the south side
Houses along Green Street

Now

Shopping mall, Children centre, Bank along the north side
Park, Library, Town Hall, Café along the south side
Apartment Block along the south side

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 transformation of a town centre between 1990 and the present day. Overall, the area has experienced substantial redevelopment, characterised by the centralisation of retail facilities and a shift in residential housing types.

In 1990, the northern side of the town centre featured a row of small independent businesses, including a newsagent's, grocer's, baker's, butcher's, and a café, alongside a children centre and a bank. Today, these smaller shops have been replaced by a single, large shopping mall, while the children centre and bank remain in their original positions. On the southern side, the park, library, and town hall have been preserved, although the bank that was previously located on the far right has been converted into a café.

Furthermore, the residential area along Green Street, which consisted of individual houses in 1990, has been completely redeveloped into a modern apartment block. Additionally, the road layout has been modified, with the introduction of pedestrianised zones and new crossing points, reflecting a shift towards a more pedestrian-friendly environment compared to the vehicle-dominated layout observed in the 1990 map.

181 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.

transformation: a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance
redevelopment: the process of developing an area of land again
centralisation: the concentration of control or activity under one authority
preserved: maintained in its original or existing state
pedestrianised: an area where vehicles are prohibited to allow walking
characterised: to describe the distinctive nature or features of something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The town centre has undergone significant structural changes, most notably the consolidation of small shops into a large shopping mall and the replacement of residential houses with apartment blocks.

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.