Academic Writing Task 1 · map

The transformation of the Assford area between 1965 and the present

The diagram below shows the development of a particular area between 1965 and the present day.

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

Development of Assford area

1965

  • Forest in the top left
  • River running vertically through the center
  • Road crossing the river via a ferry
  • Four houses in the top right Assford area

Now

  • Apartment complex in the top left
  • Car park in the top left
  • River running vertically through the center
  • Road bridge crossing the river
  • Foot bridge planned by 2010 crossing the river
  • Dense housing development in the center right
  • Original Assford houses in the top right
  • Additional car park planned by 2010 in the bottom right

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 urban development of the Assford area between 1965 and the present day. Overall, the region has transformed from a sparsely populated rural area into a developed residential zone, with significant additions to housing and transport infrastructure.

In 1965, the area was largely undeveloped, featuring a forest in the top left and only four houses in the Assford district. Transport across the river was limited to a ferry service connected to a road. By the present day, the landscape has changed dramatically. The forest has been replaced by an apartment complex and a car park. Furthermore, the ferry has been superseded by a road bridge, which now facilitates easier movement across the river.

Regarding residential growth, the area has seen a substantial increase in housing density, with a large cluster of new houses now situated between the river and the original Assford houses. Additionally, urban planning has introduced further infrastructure, including a foot bridge and an extra car park, both of which were marked as planned by 2010. These developments highlight a clear shift towards a more densely populated and well-connected suburban environment.

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

How to write about maps

urbanisation
the process of making an area more city-like
superseded
replaced by something newer or more effective
substantial
of considerable importance, size, or worth
infrastructure
the basic physical systems of a region
density
the degree of compactness of a population
facilitates
makes an action or process easier

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Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?

The area has undergone significant urbanisation, shifting from a rural landscape with limited transport to a developed residential zone featuring expanded infrastructure and housing.

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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