IELTS Essay: Map of a City in 1950

This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of a city in 1950.

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IELTS Essay: Map of a City in 1950

The map describes changes to a city since 1950. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the city has expanded to become considerably more residential and accessible, with the notable additions of a long lake and nearby business district.

In 1950, the town’s population was 20,000 and it has increased tenfold to 200,000. Previously, there was a limited area for homes, all to the north of the major road running east to west. At present, the residential area has greatly grown in all directions and there are now additional major roads in the southern half of the city.

Moreover, the narrow river running through the town has been dammed to create a large lake that stretches from the western to eastern edge of the residential area. The business district which was confined to the center of the map is now larger and includes the northern and southern shores of the lake. The bridge over the river is now over the lake and there is another bridge near the dam in the east. Finally, there is presently a second government building to the south and the airport located to the east has more than doubled in size.

Analysis

1. The map describes changes to a city since 1950. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the city has expanded to become considerably more residential and accessible, with the notable additions of a long lake and nearby business district.

Paraphrase what the map shows.
Write a clear overview summarising the major changes.

1. In 1950, the town’s population was 20,000 and it has increased tenfold to 200,000. 2. Previously, there was a limited area for homes, all to the north of the major road running east to west. 3. At present, the residential area has greatly grown in all directions and there are now additional major roads in the southern half of the city.

Begin writing about the details of the map.
Compare to other areas on the map.
After a few sentences, start a new paragraph.

1. Moreover, the narrow river running through the town has been dammed to create a large lake that stretches from the western to eastern edge of the residential area. 2. The business district which was confined to the center of the map is now larger and includes the northern and southern shores of the lake. 3. The bridge over the river is now over the lake and there is another bridge near the dam in the east. 4. Finally, there is presently a second government building to the south and the airport located to the east has more than doubled in size.

Write about the rest of the map- include everything!
Try to paraphrase some of the words from the map as well.
There is a lot in this one so you might have to write a little longer.
Be sure you mention what has not changed much too.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The map describes changes to a city since 1950. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the city has expanded to become considerably more residential and accessible, with the notable additions of a long lake and nearby business district.

In 1950, the town’s population was 20,000 and it has increased tenfold to 200,000. Previously, there was a limited area for homes, all to the north of the major road running east to west. At present, the residential area has greatly grown in all directions and there are now additional major roads in the southern half of the city.

Moreover, the narrow river running through the town has been dammed to create a large lake that stretches from the western to eastern edge of the residential area. The business district which was confined to the center of the map is now larger and includes the northern and southern shores of the lake. The bridge over the river is now over the lake and there is another bridge near the dam in the east. Finally, there is presently a second government building to the south and the airport located to the east has more than doubled in size.

Answers

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

describes shows

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

expanded grown

considerably more residential many more houses

accessible can be reached

notable additions important new areas

lake large body of water, pond

nearby business district place for offices, work around there

tenfold 10x, 1000%, ten times as large

previously before

limited area not a large place

to the north of located north of

major big

running east to west going from the right to left

at present right now

residential where people live

greatly grown increased a lot

all directions every way

additional more

southern half of the city lower part

moreover additionally

narrow not wide

dammed a blockage in the river to build up water

stretches goes all the way

edge outer point of

confined kept within certain bounds

shores beaches, edges

bridge road over water or land

finally in the end

presently right now

located to the east to the right side

doubled 2x, 200%

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

dɪsˈkraɪbz
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
ɪksˈpændɪd
kənˈsɪdərəbli mɔː ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl
əkˈsɛsəbl
ˈnəʊtəbl əˈdɪʃ(ə)nz
leɪk
ˈnɪəbaɪ ˈbɪznɪs ˈdɪstrɪkt
ˈtenfəʊld
ˈpriːviəsli
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈeərɪə
tuː ðə nɔːθ ɒv
ˈmeɪʤə
ˈrʌnɪŋ iːst tuː wɛst
æt ˈprɛznt
ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl
ˈgreɪtli grəʊn
ɔːl dɪˈrɛkʃənz
əˈdɪʃənl
ˈsʌðən hɑːf ɒv ðə ˈsɪti
mɔːˈrəʊvə
ˈnærəʊ
ˈdæmid
ˈstrɛʧɪz
ɛʤ
kənˈfaɪnd
ʃɔːz
brɪʤ
ˈfaɪnəli
ˈprɛzntli
ləʊˈkeɪtɪd tuː ði iːst
ˈdʌbld

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The map d___________s changes to a city since 1950. L______________________________________________________t the city has e______________d to become c___________________________l and a______________e, with the n___________________s of a long l_____e and n_______________________t.

In 1950, the town’s population was 20,000 and it has increased t___________d to 200,000. P______________y, there was a l______________a for homes, all t______________f the m_____r road r__________________t. A_____________t, the r_________________l area has g____________n in a_____________s and there are now a_____________l major roads in the s_______________________y.

M_______________r, the n_________w river running through the town has been d________d to create a large lake that s___________s from the western to eastern e____e of the residential area. The business district which was c_________d to the center of the map is now larger and includes the northern and southern s________s of the lake. The b_____e over the river is now over the lake and there is another bridge near the dam in the east. F________y, there is p___________y a second government building to the south and the airport l_________________t has more than d__________d in size.