Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Village Park layout between ten years ago and now

The map shows the village park, now and 10 years ago.

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

Village Park 10 years ago

10 years ago

  • Entrance at top left
  • Car park for 20 cars at middle left
  • Two tennis courts at top middle
  • Children's play area at top right
  • Football pitch in the centre
  • Pond at bottom right
  • Woods at bottom right

Now

  • Entrance at top left
  • Cycle path surrounding the park
  • Car park for 50 cars at middle left
  • Four tennis courts at top middle
  • Children's play area at top right
  • Children's soft play area below play area
  • Toilets below soft play area
  • Football pitch in the centre
  • Picnic area at bottom left
  • Boating lake at bottom right
  • Cafe at bottom right

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 Village Park over a ten-year period. Overall, the park has become more developed, with a substantial increase in the number of facilities and a significant expansion of the car park to accommodate more visitors.

Ten years ago, the park featured a central football pitch, two tennis courts, and a children’s play area. A car park with a capacity for 20 cars was located near the entrance, while the southern section contained a pond surrounded by woods.

In the present day, the park has been extensively redesigned. The car park has been enlarged to hold 50 cars, and the number of tennis courts has doubled to four. The original children’s play area remains, but it is now complemented by a new children’s soft play area and a block of toilets. Furthermore, the pond and woods have been replaced by a boating lake and a cafe, while a new picnic area has been established in the bottom-left corner. Finally, a cycle path now encircles the entire park, enhancing accessibility for visitors.

176 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
substantial
of considerable importance, size, or worth
accommodate
to provide enough space for a specific number
complemented
added to something to improve or perfect it
extensively
in a way that covers a large area
encircles
forms a circle around or surrounds something

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

Over the past decade, the village park has undergone significant expansion and modernisation, with a notable increase in recreational facilities and parking capacity.

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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