Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Diagrams showing the existing and proposed ground floor plan of a house

The diagrams below show the existing ground floor plan of a house and a proposed plan for some building work.

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

Existing floor plan

Existing floor plan

  • Kitchen on the left
  • Hallway in the centre
  • Living room on the right
  • Stairs located in the hall
  • Entrance door at the bottom centre
  • Two internal doors leading from the hall to the kitchen and living room

Proposed changes

  • Kitchen expanded with new furniture
  • Hallway removed
  • Stairs relocated to the centre of the living room area
  • Entrance door leads directly into a combined space
  • Two internal doors added to separate the kitchen from the entrance area

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 ground floor and a proposed renovation plan for the same space. Overall, the primary modifications involve the removal of the central hallway, the relocation of the staircase, and an expansion of the kitchen area to accommodate new furniture.

In the existing floor plan, the house is divided into three distinct sections: a kitchen on the left, a central hall, and a living room on the right. The entrance door is located at the bottom centre, leading directly into the hall. From this hall, two internal doors provide access to the kitchen and the living room, while a staircase with storage underneath is positioned against the right-hand wall of the hall.

Under the proposed plan, the central hallway is completely removed, creating a more integrated living space. The staircase is relocated to the centre of the floor, effectively separating the living room from the entrance area. Furthermore, the kitchen is enlarged, with new kitchen furniture installed along the left and back walls. To maintain some separation, two new internal doors are added near the entrance, providing a direct transition into the kitchen area. These changes suggest a shift towards a more spacious and open-plan ground floor design.

205 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

How to write about maps

illustrate
to show or explain something using visual aids
modifications
small changes made to improve or adjust something
relocated
moved to a new place or position
integrated
combined into a single, unified whole structure
accommodate
to provide enough space for something specific
transition
the process of changing from one state

Write your own report and get a band

Take a timed Academic writing test and get a band for task achievement, coherence, vocabulary and grammar, with the sentences to fix.

Practise IELTS Academic writing

On your phone? Get the BandLadder app.

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The proposed changes involve removing the central hallway to create a more open-plan layout, relocating the staircase, and expanding the kitchen 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.

More maps