Academic Writing Task 1 · map

A detailed layout plan for the development of a new town: IELTS Writing Task 1 sample answer

An IELTS Writing Task 1 map question with a Band 8 sample answer, the chart redrawn with its data, the vocabulary that lifts the report and how to write about maps.
  • 184 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The picture below shows the plan for a new town.

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

Plan for a new town

New Town Plan

  • Housing (H) located in various clusters throughout the town
  • Ring Road (RR) encircling the central area
  • Roads (R) connecting the center to the outer areas
  • Industry (I) situated in the top-left and bottom-right corners
  • Parking (P) located near the central bus stand
  • Bus stand (B) positioned in the central hub
  • Recreational areas (striped) located in the central and lower-middle sections

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.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8184 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided diagram illustrates the proposed layout for a new town, highlighting the strategic distribution of residential, industrial, and transport infrastructure. Overall, the plan is structured around a central hub, with a ring road facilitating movement between the inner and outer sectors of the town.

Residential housing (H) is the most prominent feature, occupying multiple clusters across the town's quadrants. These housing blocks are interspersed with other facilities to ensure accessibility. In the heart of the town, there is a central area containing a bus stand (B) and parking facilities (P), which serves as the primary transport node. Adjacent to these transport amenities are recreational areas, indicated by striped markings, providing leisure space for residents.

Regarding industrial development, two distinct zones are designated for industry (I). One is situated in the top-left corner, while the other is located in the bottom-right, effectively separating heavy activity from the residential clusters. The town's connectivity is maintained by a ring road (RR) that encircles the central hub, intersected by several main roads (R) that radiate outwards, ensuring efficient traffic flow between the residential, industrial, and central zones.

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Maps

How to write about maps: tips and vocabulary

  • →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.
  • interspersed

    scattered among or between other things

  • prominent

    important, famous, or noticeable

  • relegated

    assigned to a lower or less important position

  • facilitating

    making an action or process easier

  • connectivity

    the state of being connected or interconnected

  • radiate

    spread out from a central point

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The proposed town plan features a central hub surrounded by a ring road, with residential zones distributed throughout and industrial areas relegated to the periphery.

How many words and how long for IELTS Writing Task 1?+

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 is IELTS Writing Task 1 scored?+

On four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammatical range and accuracy. A clear overview of the main features is what most separates Band 6 from Band 7 and above.

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.

Keep practising

More maps

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