Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Redevelopment of a library ground floor between 2001 and 2009

The plans below show the ground floor of a library in 2001 and how it was redeveloped in 2009.

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

Ground floor 2001

2001

Entrance at bottom center
Librarian's desk near entrance
Stairs at bottom right
History section along left wall
Self-help section at bottom left
Fiction section at top left
Newspaper & Periodicals along right wall
Tables in center

2009

Entrance at bottom center
Librarian's desk near entrance
Stairs at bottom right
History section at bottom left
Fiction section above History
Self-help section above Fiction
Kitchen section above Self-help
Economics section above Kitchen
Law section at top left
Tables in Children's area at top
Tables in center
Computers at bottom right
Films & DVDs along right wall

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 floor plans illustrate the layout changes made to a library's ground floor between 2001 and 2009. Overall, the library was extensively reconfigured to incorporate more diverse resources and specialized areas, while the central seating capacity was notably reduced.

In 2001, the layout was relatively simple. A large central area was dedicated to tables, flanked by History and Self-help sections on the left, and Newspapers & Periodicals on the right. The Librarian's desk was positioned near the entrance, with stairs located in the bottom right corner. Fiction books occupied the top left corner.

By 2009, the space was reorganized significantly. The left wall was divided into five distinct sections: Law, Economics, Kitchen, Self-help, and Fiction, with History moved to the bottom left. The right side was repurposed for a large collection of Films & DVDs, and a new computer area was installed near the entrance. Furthermore, the central table area was downsized to make room for a Children's area at the top of the floor, which also features its own tables. Despite these changes, the entrance, stairs, and the Librarian's desk remained in their original locations.

187 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.

reconfigured: arranged in a new or different way
flanked: situated on each side of something
repurposed: adapted for a different use or purpose
downsized: made smaller in size or extent
incorporate: take in or contain as part of
distinct: recognizably different in nature from something else

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 library underwent a significant transformation, with the central seating area being reduced to accommodate a dedicated children's section, new computer facilities, and a wider variety of book categories.

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.