Academic Writing Task 1 · map

Comparison of University Campus Layout Between 2010 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.
  • 184 words
  • Maps
  • Academic
  • 20 minutes

The question

The maps show improvements that have been made to a university campus between 2010 and the present day.

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

University Campus 2010

2010

  • Student accommodation (two buildings)
  • University offices
  • Teaching block (Arts & Science)
  • Lake
  • Lawn & seating area
  • Shops
  • Restaurant

Now

  • Expanded student accommodation (two buildings)
  • Science building
  • Arts building
  • Lake (reduced size)
  • Student facilities (shops, offices, etc.)

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 maps illustrate the physical transformations of a university campus between 2010 and the present day. Overall, the campus has undergone significant structural development, transitioning from a dispersed layout with shared teaching facilities to a more specialized academic environment with expanded student accommodation and centralized amenities.

In 2010, the campus featured a single teaching block for both arts and science, alongside university offices and a restaurant. The central area was dominated by a large lake surrounded by a lawn and seating area, with shops located nearby. Two separate student accommodation buildings were situated on the periphery.

By the present day, the landscape has been extensively reconfigured. The original teaching block has been replaced by two distinct buildings dedicated to science and arts. Furthermore, the student accommodation has been expanded, with the buildings now appearing larger and more integrated. The original restaurant, shops, and university offices have been consolidated into a new, multi-purpose facility for student services located near the lake, which has been reduced in size to accommodate this development. These changes reflect a shift towards a more concentrated and specialized campus infrastructure.

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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.
  • reconfigured

    arranged in a new or different way

  • consolidated

    combined several things into a single unit

  • periphery

    the outer edge or boundary of an area

  • integrated

    combined to form a more effective whole

  • transitioning

    changing from one state to another

  • dispersed

    spread over a wide area

Frequently asked questions

What should the overview say?+

The university campus has undergone significant structural development, transitioning from a dispersed layout with shared teaching facilities to a more specialized academic environment with expanded student accommodation and centralized amenities.

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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