Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Map of the City of Brandfield Showing Key Urban Infrastructure

Below is a map of the city of Brandfield. City planners have decided to build a new shopping mall for the area, and two sites, S1 and S2 have been proposed.

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

Map of Brandfield City

Brandfield City Map

Golf Course & Park: large green area in the west and central-west
Housing Estate: yellow area in the north
City Centre: red area in the central-east
Industrial Estate: purple area in the east
River: blue line flowing from the south-west to the north-east
Road: thick black line curving from the north-west to the south-east
Railway: black line with cross-hatches running from the north-west to the south-east

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 map illustrates the current layout of Brandfield, highlighting the distribution of key urban zones including residential, commercial, and industrial areas, alongside major transport infrastructure.

Overall, the city is divided by a river and a railway line, with the western and northern sectors primarily dedicated to leisure and housing, while the eastern portion contains the central business and industrial districts. The road network connects these diverse areas, facilitating movement across the city.

The Golf Course and Park occupies a significant portion of the western and central-west landscape, providing a large green space. To the north of this, the Housing Estate is situated, positioned between the river and the railway line. This residential zone is well-connected to the rest of the city via the main road that traverses the area from the north-west to the south-east.

In contrast, the City Centre is located in the central-east, serving as a focal point for commercial activity. Adjacent to this, in the easternmost part of the city, lies the Industrial Estate. Both the river and the railway line act as major geographical features that bisect the city, influencing the placement of these distinct urban zones.

192 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.

characterised: described by the main features or qualities
distribution: the way in which something is spread out
bisect: to divide into two separate parts
adjacent: located next to or very near something
focal point: the center of interest or activity
traverses: to move across or extend over an area

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The city of Brandfield is characterised by a central concentration of commercial and industrial zones, while recreational and residential areas are situated towards the west and north respectively.

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.