Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of Grange Park layout between 1920 and the present day: 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.
  • 199 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

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

Grange Park (1920)

1920

  • Arnold Avenue entrance at the top
  • Eldon Street entrance at the bottom
  • Two rose gardens in the top corners
  • Pond for water plants in the top right
  • Stage for musicians in the middle left
  • Fountain in the centre
  • Glasshouse in the bottom right
  • Seats along the left and right edges and near the bottom entrance

Today

  • Arnold Avenue entrance at the top
  • Eldon Street entrance at the bottom
  • Amphitheatre for concerts on the left
  • Rose garden in the centre surrounded by seats
  • Café in the top right
  • Children's play area in the top right
  • Water feature in the bottom right
  • Underground car park entrance on 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.

Model answer

Band 8 sample answer

Band 8199 words. Every figure in the answer comes from the chart above.

The provided maps illustrate the transformation of Grange Park from its opening in 1920 to the present day. Overall, the park has undergone significant structural changes, replacing most of its original ornamental features with modern recreational facilities and improved infrastructure.

In 1920, the park was primarily designed for leisure and aesthetics. It featured two rose gardens in the northern corners, a pond for water plants in the north-east, and a central fountain. A stage for musicians was situated on the western side, while a glasshouse occupied the south-eastern area. Seating was distributed along the perimeter and near the southern entrance. Both Arnold Avenue and Eldon Street provided direct access to the park.

Today, the layout is markedly different. The original stage has been replaced by a large amphitheatre for concerts. The central fountain has been removed to make way for a new, centrally located rose garden surrounded by seating. The northern pond and the glasshouse have been replaced by a café and a children’s play area, respectively. Furthermore, a new water feature has been installed in the south-east, and an entrance to an underground car park has been added to the south-eastern corner, reflecting a shift towards modern utility.

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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.
  • transformation

    a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance

  • ornamental

    serving or intended as an ornament or decoration

  • distributed

    spread over a wide area or among many people

  • markedly

    in a way that is easy to notice

  • replaced

    took the place of something that was there before

  • utility

    the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The park has undergone significant structural changes, replacing most of its original ornamental features with modern recreational facilities and improved infrastructure.

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

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