This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of the town of Lynnfield from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Map of the Town of Lynnfield

The maps below shows the town of Lynnfield in 1936 and then later in 2007.

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

The maps detail changes to a town called Lynnfield between 1936 and 2007. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became more residential, commercial, and accessible at the expense of natural land, agriculture and smaller shops.

In 1936, to the northwest and northeast of the town were several trees and a river surrounded by untouched land. By 2007, the number of trees had declined and the land around the river became a residential area. To the southwest of the town, a cycling path was turned into a road for cars and on the opposite side of the map a museum and golf course replaced government offices and farm land.

In terms of the center of the town itself, there was a post office, sweet shop and butcher’s in a single row with a lane separating those businesses from the flower shop, bank and library. In 2007, only the bank (slightly expanded in size), library, and post office remained the same. The flower shop had by then been removed in favor of a travel agent, there was a shopping center in the previously unoccupied space between businesses, and the sweet shop and butcher’s were combined and transformed into a large supermarket.

Analysis

1. The maps detail changes to a town called Lynnfield between 1936 and 2007. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became more residential, commercial, and accessible at the expense of natural land, agriculture and smaller shops.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a general over for the map. Include the major changes and group them generally.

1. In 1936, to the northwest and northeast of the town were several trees and a river surrounded by untouched land. 2. By 2007, the number of trees had declined and the land around the river became a residential area. 3. To the southwest of the town, a cycling path was turned into a road for cars and on the opposite side of the map a museum and golf course replaced government offices and farm land.

1. Begin to describe the changes.
2. Be sure to compare as much as possible.
3. In this one I separated inside and outside the town itself.

1. In terms of the center of the town itself, there was a post office, sweet shop and butcher’s in a single row with a lane separating those businesses from the flower shop, bank and library. 2. In 2007, only the bank (slightly expanded in size), library, and post office remained the same. 3. The flower shop had by then been removed in favor of a travel agent, there was a shopping center in the previously unoccupied space between businesses, and the sweet shop and butcher’s were combined and transformed into a large supermarket.

1. Switch to another part of the map.
2. Don’t include any opinion and don’t forget any areas.
3. Nothing should be left out!

Vocabulary

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

detail show

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

residential houses, apartments

commercial businesses

accessible can be travelled to easily

expense interest

natural land nature

agriculture farming

smaller shops local businesses

northwest top left

northeast top right

several lots of

surrounded by around

untouched land nature with no developments

declined decreased

to the southwest of the town in the lower left part

cycling path where bikes ride

on the opposite side reversed part

replaced taken the place of

in terms of considering

butcher’s place to buy meat

single row one line

lane separating space keeping apart

slightly expanded in size got a little bigger

remain the same unchanged

removed in favor of taken away so that

previously unoccupied space place where nothing was there before

combined added together

transformed changed

Answers

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

The maps detail changes to a town called Lynnfield between 1936 and 2007. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became more residential, commercial, and accessible at the expense of natural land, agriculture and smaller shops.

In 1936, to the northwest and northeast of the town were several trees and a river surrounded by untouched land. By 2007, the number of trees had declined and the land around the river became a residential area. To the southwest of the town, a cycling path was turned into a road for cars and on the opposite side of the map a museum and golf course replaced government offices and farm land.

In terms of the center of the town itself, there was a post office, sweet shop and butcher’s in a single row with a lane separating those businesses from the flower shop, bank and library. In 2007, only the bank (slightly expanded in size), library, and post office remained the same. The flower shop had by then been removed in favor of a travel agent, there was a shopping center in the previously unoccupied space between businesses, and the sweet shop and butcher’s were combined and transformed into a large supermarket.

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl
kəˈmɜːʃəl
əkˈsɛsəbl 
ɪksˈpɛns 
ˈnæʧrəl lænd
ˈægrɪkʌlʧə 
ˈsmɔːlə ʃɒps
ˌnɔːθˈwɛst 
ˌnɔːθˈiːst 
ˈsɛvrəl 
səˈraʊndɪd baɪ 
ʌnˈtʌʧt lænd
dɪˈklaɪnd 
tuː ðə ˌsaʊθˈwɛst ɒv ðə taʊn
ˈsaɪklɪŋ pɑːθ 
ɒn ði ˈɒpəzɪt saɪd 
rɪˈpleɪst 
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
ˈbʊʧəz 
ˈsɪŋgl rəʊ 
leɪn ˈsɛpəreɪtɪŋ 
ˈslaɪtli ɪksˈpændɪd ɪn saɪz
rɪˈmeɪn ðə seɪm
rɪˈmuːvd ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv 
ˈpriːviəsli ʌnˈɒkjʊpaɪd speɪs 
kəmˈbaɪnd 
trænsˈfɔːmd 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The maps d_______l changes to a town called Lynnfield between 1936 and 2007. L_________________________________________________t the town became more r_____________l, c_____________l, and a___________e at the e________e of n_________d, a__________e and s__________s.

In 1936, to the n___________t and n___________t of the town were s__________l trees and a river s_______________y u___________________d. By 2007, the number of trees had d_________d and the land around the river became a residential area. T__________________________n, a c____________h was turned into a road for cars and o__________________e of the map a museum and golf course r_________d government offices and farm land.

I____________f the center of the town itself, there was a post office, sweet shop and b__________s in a s___________w with a l________________g those businesses from the flower shop, bank and library. In 2007, only the bank (s___________________________e), library, and post office r_____________e. The flower shop had by then been r_____________________f a travel agent, there was a shopping center in the p_________________________e between businesses, and the sweet shop and butcher’s were c__________d and t_____________d into a large supermarket.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PST3FzzU7-k

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/news/main_edition/fairs-a-piece-of-americana-opinion/article_ea3ea263-3175-5e75-8c3b-41ea67ddc4ce.html

Speaking Practice

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

Where you Live

My sample speaking for these questions is here.

1. Where do you live at the moment?
2. What do you like about your neighborhood?
3. Are there any parks where you live?

Writing Practice

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

https://howtodoielts.com/ielts-essay-task-1-science-park-map/