This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a floor plan/map of a home/house now and in the future.

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IELTS Essay: Floor Plan of a Home

The plans below shows a home and plans for its redevelopment.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

The floor plans detail a home at present and planned renovations. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the interior will expand slightly to include additional living areas and rooms, with a new parking area outside.

The home presently contains a single abutting study/bedroom on the left side that will be doubled in the future. In the main home itself, the current set-up includes an entranceway opening into a large hall, next to a bathroom to one’s immediate left, a long living room, a study/bedroom, a kitchen and another study/bedroom on the right side directly across from the entrance.

In the future, the bathroom will reduce in size slightly and an ensuite bathroom will be added to the hall. The living room will be replaced by a large study/bedroom and a smaller study/bedroom in the top left corner. On the right side, the kitchen will be extended sideways allowing for a social area and the study/bedroom in the bottom right corner is projected to be unaltered. Outside the home, the garden to the top will remain unchanged but the lower one will be removed in favor of a parking area.

Analysis

1. The floor plans detail a home at present and planned renovations. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the interior will expand slightly to include additional living areas and rooms, with a new parking area outside.

1. Paraphrase what the map or floorplan shows.
2. Write a clear overview summarising the major trends and differences.

1. The home presently contains a single abutting study/bedroom on the left side that will be doubled in the future. 2. In the main home itself, the current set-up includes an entranceway opening into a large hall, next to a bathroom to one’s immediate left, a long living room, a study/bedroom, a kitchen and another study/bedroom on the right side directly across from the entrance.

1. Begin writing about the changes.
2. Write about everything.

1. In the future, the bathroom will reduce in size slightly and an ensuite bathroom will be added to the hall. 2. The living room will be replaced by a large study/bedroom and a smaller study/bedroom in the top left corner. 3. On the right side, the kitchen will be extended sideways allowing for a social area and the study/bedroom in the bottom right corner is projected to be unaltered. 4. Outside the home, the garden to the top will remain unchanged but the lower one will be removed in favor of a parking area.

1. Write about the rest of the floorplan.
2. Make sure you have detailed all the information, even what has not changed.
3. The more comparison, the better.
4. Don’t miss out on anything!

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

The floor plans detail a home at present and planned renovations. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the interior will expand slightly to include additional living areas and rooms, with a new parking area outside.

The home presently contains a single abutting study/bedroom on the left side that will be doubled in the future. In the main home itself, the current set-up includes an entranceway opening into a large hall, next to a bathroom to one’s immediate left, a long living room, a study/bedroom, a kitchen and another study/bedroom on the right side directly across from the entrance.

In the future, the bathroom will reduce in size slightly and an ensuite bathroom will be added to the hall. The living room will be replaced by a large study/bedroom and a smaller study/bedroom in the top left corner. On the right side, the kitchen will be extended sideways allowing for a social area and the study/bedroom in the bottom right corner is projected to be unaltered. Outside the home, the garden to the top will remain unchanged but the lower one will be removed in favor of a parking area.

Answers

Write the words below on a piece of paper to improve your memory of them:

floor plans blueprints

detail show

at present right not

planned renovations plans for the future

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

interior inside

expand slightly a little bigger

include additional also have added

outside opposite of inside

presently contains right now has

abutting next to

side part

doubled increased by 200%

in the main home itself the actual house

current set-up how it looks right now

entranceway opening into doors going into

hall main area connecting the rooms

next to beside

to one’s immediate left right on the left when you enter

another and additional

on the right side to the right section

directly across from straight on the opposite side

in the future later

reduce made smaller

slightly a little

added included

replaced by removed in favor of

extended sideways lengthened the long way

social area place to hang out

projected predicted

unaltered no change

remain stay the same

removed in favor of displaced to make room for

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below with this tip about Google voice search:

flɔː plænz 
ˈdiːteɪl 
æt ˈprɛznt 
plænd ˌrɛnəʊˈveɪʃənz
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ɪnˈtɪərɪə 
ɪksˈpænd ˈslaɪtli 
ɪnˈkluːd əˈdɪʃənl 
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd
ˈprɛzntli kənˈteɪnz 
əˈbʌtɪŋ 
saɪd 
ˈdʌbld 
ɪn ðə meɪn həʊm ɪtˈsɛlf
ˈkʌrənt ˈsɛtʌp 
ˈɛntrəns weɪ ˈəʊpnɪŋ ˈɪntuː 
hɔːl
nɛkst tuː 
tuː wʌnz ɪˈmiːdiət lɛft
əˈnʌðə 
ɒn ðə raɪt saɪd 
dɪˈrɛktli əˈkrɒs frɒm 
ɪn ðə ˈfjuːʧə
rɪˈdjuːs 
ˈslaɪtli 
ˈædɪd 
rɪˈpleɪst baɪ 
ɪksˈtɛndɪd ˈsaɪdweɪz 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈeərɪə 
prəˈʤɛktɪd 
ʌnˈɔːltəd
rɪˈmeɪn 
rɪˈmuːvd ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The f_________________s d________l a home a____________t and p__________________s. L_____________________________________________________t the i___________r will e________________y to i________________l living areas and rooms, with a new parking area o_________e.

The home p___________________s a single a__________g study/bedroom on the left s____e that will be d_________d in the future. I________________________f, the c_______________p includes an e_________________________o a large h_____l, n________o a bathroom t______________________t, a long living room, a study/bedroom, a kitchen and a_________r study/bedroom o________________e d__________________________m the entrance.

I__________________e, the bathroom will r_________e in size s___________y and an ensuite bathroom will be a________d to the hall. The living room will be r_______________y a large study/bedroom and a smaller study/bedroom in the top left corner. On the right side, the kitchen will be e___________________s allowing for a s_________________a and the study/bedroom in the bottom right corner is p_______________d to be u______________d. Outside the home, the garden to the top will r_________n unchanged but the lower one will be r_____________________________f a parking area.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.dwell.com/article/mit-chit-house-looklen-architects-ae336203

Speaking Practice

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

Where you Live

1. Did you like the house you grew up in?
2. What was your favourite area of the house you grew up in?
3. Where do you want to live in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related map below and then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Task 1: Floorplan of a Theatre