Academic Writing Task 1 · map

The transformation of a coastal fishing village into a tourist resort

The maps below show the development of a small fishing village and its surrounding area into a large European tourist resort.

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

Development of a fishing village into a tourist resort

1974

  • Fishing village population 12,000
  • Woodland on the left
  • Sheep and goats on the hills
  • Olive groves on the hills
  • Harbour with boats
  • Small village centre

2004

  • Resort population 80,000
  • 50,000 tourist beds
  • Golf course on the left
  • Hotels along the beach
  • Village and tourist shops
  • Farmland for hotels
  • Homes of locals
  • Road connecting areas
  • High-rise buildings

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 significant transformation of a small coastal fishing village into a large-scale European tourist resort between 1974 and 2004. Overall, the area underwent extensive urbanisation, shifting from a primary focus on fishing and agriculture to a major tourism-oriented economy, accompanied by a substantial increase in population and infrastructure.

In 1974, the area was sparsely populated, with only 12,000 residents. The landscape was dominated by natural features, including woodland, olive groves, and hills used for grazing sheep and goats. The settlement was small, centred around a harbour with fishing boats, reflecting a traditional lifestyle. There were no major roads or large-scale commercial structures.

By 2004, the landscape had been completely altered. The population surged to 80,000, supported by 50,000 tourist beds. The woodland and grazing areas were replaced by a golf course, farmland to supply hotels, and extensive hotel complexes along the beach. The original village was expanded to include tourist shops, and new residential areas for locals were constructed. Furthermore, a road network was developed to connect the various parts of the resort, and high-rise buildings were erected, marking a transition to a modern, high-density tourist destination.

191 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
urbanisation
the process of making an area more city-like
sparsely populated
an area with very few people living there
dominated
to be the most important or noticeable feature
surged
to increase suddenly and powerfully in number
transition
the process of changing from one state to another

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The maps illustrate a dramatic expansion of the area from a small, agriculture-based fishing village in 1974 to a highly developed, densely populated tourist resort by 2004.

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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