This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the new Cambridge IELTS 17 book of past test papers related to a map of an industrial area in the town of Norbiton.

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IELTS Cambridge 17 Essay: Map of an Industrial Area (Norbiton)

The maps illustrate an industrial area in Norbiton in the present day compared with plans for future development of the site.

The above maps detail Norbiton in the present day and plans for future development. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town will become less industrial and more residential with the construction of facilities for housing, education, shopping, and medical care. This development will occur primarily to the west and north with only a small patch of farmland remaining undisturbed.

In the current town, there is a central roundabout surrounded by factories and a road running from west to east out of Norbiton. In the future, the roundabout will remain but the factories around it will become shops, new housing will line a northwestern road, and there will be a new hospital built to the southeast. The original road going to the east will also now have housing on either side along with a large playground to the north and a school at the easternmost border of the town.

Outside the center of the town, there are also plans for a smaller roundabout in the south which will bisect an existing street. In the north, there will be a bridge over the river and the farmland to the north will be partly replaced with housing, though not to the east where no alterations will be made.

Analysis

1. The above maps detail Norbiton in the present day and plans for future development. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town will become less industrial and more residential with the construction of facilities for housing, education, shopping, and medical care. 3. This development will occur primarily to the west and north with only a small patch of farmland remaining undisturbed.

  1. Paraphrase what the map shows.
  2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
  3. You might need another sentence for your overview.

1. In the current town, there is a central roundabout surrounded by factories and a road running from west to east out of Norbiton. 2. In the future, the roundabout will remain but the factories around it will become shops, new housing will line a northwestern road, and there will be a new hospital built to the southeast. 3. The original road going to the east will also now have housing on either side along with a large playground to the north and a school at the easternmost border of the town.

  1. Begin writing about the first part of the map.
  2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.
  3. Don’t leave anything out!

1. Outside the center of the town, there are also plans for a smaller roundabout in the south which will bisect an existing street. 2. In the north, there will be a bridge over the river and the farmland to the north will be partly replaced with housing, though not to the east where no alterations will be made.

  1. Write about the final, other parts of the map – include everything!
  2. Mention anything that has not changed on the map too.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

The above maps detail Norbiton in the present day and plans for future development. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town will become less industrial and more residential with the construction of facilities for housing, education, shopping, and medical care. This development will occur primarily to the west and north with only a small patch of farmland remaining undisturbed.

In the current town, there is a central roundabout surrounded by factories and a road running from west to east out of Norbiton. In the future, the roundabout will remain but the factories around it will become shops, new housing will line a northwestern road, and there will be a new hospital built to the southeast. The original road going to the east will also now have housing on either side along with a large playground to the north and a school at the easternmost border of the town.

Outside the center of the town, there are also plans for a smaller roundabout in the south which will bisect an existing street. In the north, there will be a bridge over the river and the farmland to the north will be partly replaced with housing, though not to the east where no alterations will be made.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

above over

detail show

in the present day today

future development plans for later

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall

less industrial not as many factories and businesses

more residential more people living there in homes

construction building of

facilities places

housing places to live

education schools

shopping places to shop

medical care hospitals

occur primarily happens mostly

to the west and north in the right and top part

small patch little piece

farmland agricultural land

remaining undisturbed staying unchanged

In the current town where it is now

central roundabout rotary in the middle

surrounded by on all sides

running from west to east out of going from left to right

line are alongside of

northwestern top left

southeast. bottom right

original how it was

on either side on both sides of

along with and

playground place for kids to play

easternmost border to the east, the furthest point

outside past

bisect cut in half

existing is there now

bridge goes over rivers

partly replaced somewhat taking the place of

though however

alterations changes

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

əˈbʌv 
ˈdiːteɪl 
ɪn ðə ˈprɛznt deɪ 
ˈfjuːʧə dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
lɛs ɪnˈdʌstrɪəl 
mɔː ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl 
kənˈstrʌkʃən 
fəˈsɪlɪtiz 
ˈhaʊzɪŋ
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ˈʃɒpɪŋ 
ˈmɛdɪkəl keə
əˈkɜː ˈpraɪmərɪli 
tuː ðə wɛst ænd nɔːθ 
smɔːl pæʧ 
ˈfɑːmlænd 
rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ ˌʌndɪˈstɜːbd
ɪn ðə ˈkʌrənt taʊn
ˈsɛntrəl ˈraʊndəbaʊt 
səˈraʊndɪd baɪ 
ˈrʌnɪŋ frɒm wɛst tuː iːst aʊt ɒv 
laɪn 
ˌnɔːθˈwɛstən 
ˌsaʊθˈiːst
əˈrɪʤənl 
ɒn ˈaɪðə saɪd 
əˈlɒŋ wɪð 
ˈpleɪgraʊnd 
ˈiːstənməʊst ˈbɔːdə 
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd 
baɪˈsɛkt 
ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ 
brɪʤ 
ˈpɑːtli rɪˈpleɪst 
ðəʊ 
ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

The a______e maps d______l Norbiton i_________________y and plans for f_____________________t. L___________________________________________t the town will become l_______________l and m________________l with the c______________n of f_________s for h_________g, e__________n, s_______g, and m____________e. This development will o____r p_________y t____________________________h with only a s________h of f__________________________d.

I___________________n, there is a c___________________t s_________________y factories and a road r______________________________f Norbiton. In the future, the roundabout will remain but the factories around it will become shops, new housing will l____e a n_____________n road, and there will be a new hospital built to the s_____________t. The o_________l road going to the east will also now have housing o_____________e a___________h a large p____________d to the north and a school at the e__________________r of the town.

O__________e the center of the town, there are also plans for a smaller roundabout in the south which will b_______t an e___________g street. In the north, there will be a b_______e over the river and the farmland to the north will be p____________d with housing, t_________h not to the east where no a___________s will be made.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202207/08/WS62c77396a310fd2b29e6b28b.html

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Driving

  1. Do you like driving?
  2. Where was the last place you drove?
  3. Where do you like to sit in a car?
  4. Is driving common in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

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