Academic Writing Task 1 · map

The historical development of Chorleywood village from 1868 to 1994

Chorleywood is a village near London whose population has increased steadily since the middle of the 19th century. The map below shows the development of the village.

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

Development of Chorleywood village

Chorleywood Development

Main Road: dark grey lines
Motorway (built 1970): light orange vertical path
Railway (built 1909): brown and white striped horizontal path
1868-1883: dark grey area near station
1883-1922: teal area surrounding station
1922-1970: grey area extending west and south
1970-1994: light orange areas in the north-east and south-east
Chorleywood Park and Golf Course: located in the north-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 expansion of Chorleywood village over four distinct periods between 1868 and 1994. Overall, the village experienced steady growth, evolving from a small cluster of buildings into a substantial residential area, with its development heavily influenced by the introduction of the railway and a motorway.

Between 1868 and 1883, the village was very small, concentrated primarily around the area that would later become Chorleywood Station. This initial core expanded significantly during the 1883-1922 period, with the teal-shaded area showing growth in all directions. The construction of the railway in 1909 likely acted as a catalyst for this expansion. By the 1922-1970 period, the village had spread further to the west and south, occupying a much larger footprint.

The final phase, from 1970 to 1994, saw the village expand into the north-east and south-east sectors. This period also coincided with the construction of a motorway in 1970, which cut through the eastern side of the village. By 1994, the area known as Chorleywood Park and Golf Course remained a prominent feature in the north-east, while the village had become a well-connected residential hub.

186 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.

catalyst: something that causes or accelerates a significant change
concentrated: gathered together in one specific or small area
footprint: the total area covered by a physical structure
coincided: happened at the same time as another event
expanded: increased in size, volume, or physical extent
prominent: important, noticeable, or standing out from surroundings

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The village of Chorleywood expanded significantly from a small settlement near the station in the late 19th century to a much larger residential area by 1994, facilitated by the construction of key transport infrastructure.

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.