IELTS Cambridge 20 Task 1 Essay: Beechwood Farm

This is my IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay from the new IELTS Cambridge 20 book of past tests on the topic of a map showing Beechwood Farm in the past in the present day.

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IELTS Cambridge 20 Task 1 Essay: Beechwood Farm

The plans below show the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.

Analysis

1. The maps detail Beechwood farm in the past and the present day. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that farming operations have greatly expanded to allow for recreational activities related to camping. 3. There have also been improvements implemented in terms of accessibility and energy generation, while only major infrastructure remains unchanged.

Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
Write a clear overview.
Your overview should be two sentences.

1. In the year 1950, the farm was relatively simple in design with the majority of land dedicated to a northeastern pasture for sheep grazing. 2. Today, this same space now accommodates an array of solar panels, two parking areas, and a large campground. 3. The previous track bisecting the northern and southern sections of the farm and featuring a triangular middle intersection is now a road with an unaltered shape and direction.

Begin describing the map.
Make sure that you compare between sentences.
And include as much information as possible.

1. In the southern half of the farm, the fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetable plots to the west are largely unchanged (the sole addition is a farm shop near the main road running to the north). 2. To the east, a new barn connected to the updated road has been constructed in an empty lot of land. 3. Further east, a long farmhouse and chickencoop remain unaltered, with the only new addition being a row of holiday cottages. 4. The curving river surrounding the farm to the south and the road going west to northeast are identical in structure and direction.

Switch to the rest of the map.
Vary short and long sentences.
Include everything and keep comparing.
Aim for under 200 words.

Vocabulary

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

The maps detail Beechwood farm in the past and the present day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that farming operations have greatly expanded to allow for recreational activities related to camping. There have also been improvements implemented in terms of accessibility and energy generation, while only major infrastructure remains unchanged.

In the year 1950, the farm was relatively simple in design with the majority of land dedicated to a northeastern pasture for sheep grazing. Today, this same space now accommodates an array of solar panels, two parking areas, and a large campground. The previous track bisecting the northern and southern sections of the farm and featuring a triangular middle intersection is now a road with an unaltered shape and direction.

In the southern half of the farm, the fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetable plots to the west are largely unchanged (the sole addition is a farm shop near the main road running to the north). To the east, a new barn connected to the updated road has been constructed in an empty lot of land. Further east, a long farmhouse and chickencoop remain unaltered, with the only new addition being a row of holiday cottages. The curving river surrounding the farm to the south and the road going west to northeast are identical in structure and direction.

Answers

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

detail → show

in the past and the present day → historically and currently

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that farming operations → From a broad viewpoint, it is clear that agricultural activities

greatly expanded to allow for → significantly developed to make room for

recreational activities related to camping → leisure pursuits associated with camping

improvements implemented → enhancements made

in terms of → regarding

accessibility and energy generation → transport access and power production

major infrastructure remains unchanged → key facilities have stayed the same

relatively simple in design with → fairly basic in structure, featuring

majority of land dedicated to → most of the area used for

pasture → grazing land

sheep grazing → livestock feeding (specifically sheep)

this same space now accommodates → this area is now used for

array → range

large campground → extensive camping site

bisecting → dividing through the middle

sections → parts or zones

featuring a triangular middle intersection → with a central triangular junction

unaltered shape and direction → same form and orientation

In the southern half of the → Within the southern portion of the

to the west → on the western side

largely unchanged → mostly the same

sole addition → only new element

main road running to the north → primary road heading northward

connected to the updated road → linked with the modified route

constructed in an empty lot of land → built on previously unused ground

Further east → Moving eastward

remain unaltered → have not been changed

with the only new addition being → with the sole change being

holiday cottages → vacation cabins

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl
ɪn ðə pɑːst ænd ðə ˈprɛzᵊnt deɪ
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærᵊnt ðæt ˈfɑːmɪŋ ˌɒpᵊrˈeɪʃᵊnz
ˈɡreɪtli ɪkˈspændɪd tuː əˈlaʊ fɔː
ˌrɛkriˈeɪʃᵊnᵊl ækˈtɪvətiz rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈkæmpɪŋ
ɪmˈpruːvmənts ˈɪmplɪmɛntɪd
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
əkˌsɛsəˈbɪləti ænd ˈɛnəʤi ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃᵊn
ˈmeɪʤər ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə rɪˈmeɪnz ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
ˈrɛlətɪvli ˈsɪmpᵊl ɪn dɪˈzaɪn wɪð
məˈʤɒrəti ɒv lænd ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd tuː
ˈpɑːsʧə
ʃiːp ˈɡreɪzɪŋ
ðɪs seɪm speɪs naʊ əˈkɒmədeɪts
əˈreɪ
lɑːʤ ˈkæmpɡraʊnd
baɪˈsɛktɪŋ
ˈsɛkʃᵊnz
ˈfiːʧərɪŋ ə traɪˈæŋɡjələ ˈmɪdᵊl ˌɪntəˈsɛkʃᵊn
ʌnˈɔːltəd ʃeɪp ænd daɪˈrɛkʃᵊn
ɪn ðə ˈsʌðən hɑːf ɒv ðiː
tuː ðə wɛst
ˈlɑːʤli ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
səʊl əˈdɪʃᵊn
meɪn rəʊd ˈrʌnɪŋ tuː ðə nɔːθ
kəˈnɛktɪd tuː ði ʌpˈdeɪtɪd rəʊd
kənˈstrʌktɪd ɪn ən ˈɛmpti lɒt ɒv lænd
ˈfɜːðər iːst
rɪˈmeɪn ʌnˈɔːltəd
wɪð ði ˈəʊnli njuː əˈdɪʃᵊn ˈbiːɪŋ
ˈhɒlədeɪ ˈkɒtɪʤɪz

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 maps d_____l Beechwood farm in ______________________ day. Looking _____________________________________________________________ operations have greatly ___________________________________ camping. There have also been improvements _____________________________________________________ generation, while only major ____________________________ unchanged.

In the year 1950, the farm was relatively ______________ with the majority ______________ to a northeastern p________e for sheep ________g. Today, this ________________ accommodates an a______y of solar panels, two parking areas, and a large ___________d. The previous track b_______g the northern and southern s________s of the farm and featuring ______________________ intersection is now a road with an unaltered _________ direction.

In __________________ the farm, the fruit trees, soft fruits, and vegetable plots to ________ west are largely _________d (the sole _________n is a farm shop near the main ___________________ north). To the east, a new barn connected ___________________ road has been constructed ___________________ land. Further _____t, a long farmhouse and chickencoop remain __________d, with ______________________________ being a row of holiday __________s. The curving _______________________ farm to the south and the road going west to northeast are identical ________________________ direction.