This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a mining town in the past and now from the real IELTS exam.

A really interesting, kind of strange one – love the opportunity to write about an old-timey mining town!

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Dave

IELTS Cambridge 16 Essay: Airport Map

The plans below show the site of mining town in the past and after redevelopment in the present day.

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

ielts essay map mine

The maps detail significant alterations to a former mining town. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became less focused on the industry of mining and more on tourism with various historical sites and facilities for dining and entertainment.

In the past, the mining town was centered around a mine entrance for workers and related infrastructure. There were two waste pits near the mines as well as a staff changing room and medical room for treatment of injuries. Adjacent to the mine was also an office building and slightly further away was the parking lot for cars and lorries.

In the present day, the parking lot for cars remains the same and the mine is still present, though it is now for visitors instead of workers. The office and changing rooms have been replaced by a museum while the lorry parking space and medical area have become a footpath (leading to a children’s playground) and a cafe, respectively. Finally, the waste pits have been removed in favor of a driving truck track and an area reserved for picnics.

Analysis

1. The maps detail significant alterations to a former mining town. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became less focused on the industry of mining and more on tourism with various historical sites and facilities for dining and entertainment.

  1. Paraphrase what the map shows.
  2. Write a clear overview summarising the major groups.

1. In the past, the mining town was centered around a mine entrance for workers and related infrastructure. 2. There were two waste pits near the mines as well as a staff changing room and medical room for treatment of injuries. 3. Adjacent to the mine was also an office building and slightly further away was the parking lot for cars and lorries.

  1. Begin writing about the details of the map.
  2. Describe what is located next to what you described before.
  3. Include everything!

1. In the present day, the parking lot for cars remains the same and the mine is still present, though it is now for visitors instead of workers. 2. The office and changing rooms have been replaced by a museum while the lorry parking space and medical area have become a footpath (leading to a children’s playground) and a cafe, respectively. 3. Finally, the waste pits have been removed in favor of a driving truck track and an area reserved for picnics.

  1. Move on to the other map.
  2. Try to paraphrase some of the words from the map as well.
  3. Include every single change in the map.

Vocabulary

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

The maps detail significant alterations to a former mining town. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the town became less focused on the industry of mining and more on tourism with various historical sites and facilities for dining and entertainment.

In the past, the mining town was centered around a mine entrance for workers and related infrastructure. There were two waste pits near the mines as well as a staff changing room and medical room for treatment of injuries. Adjacent to the mine was also an office building and slightly further away was the parking lot for cars and lorries.

In the present day, the parking lot for cars remains the same and the mine is still present, though it is now for visitors instead of workers. The office and changing rooms have been replaced by a museum while the lorry parking space and medical area have become a footpath (leading to a children’s playground) and a cafe, respectively. Finally, the waste pits have been removed in favor of a driving truck track and an area reserved for picnics.

Answers

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

detail show

significant alterations big changes

former mining town past place where people dug into the ground to locate minerals

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

less focused on not caring about

industry business, work

more on tourism directed more toward customers

various historical sites different places related to history

facilities infrastructure

dining eating

entertainment places to have fun

in the past formerly

centered around related to

entrance place to go in

related infrastructure similar buildings, etc.

waste pits where to put the excess waste/trass

near next to

as well as and

a staff changing room place to put on clothes

medical room hospital area

injuries getting hurt

adjacent to next to

slightly further away a little bit away from there

parking lot place to park

lorries trucks

in the present day right now

remains the same nothing has changed

present now

visitors guests

instead of rather than

replaced by something in its place

footpath walking road

leading to going toward

respectively in turn

removed in favor of taken away in order for

reserved for specifically for

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪl 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz 
ˈfɔːmə ˈmaɪnɪŋ taʊn
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
lɛs ˈfəʊkəst ɒn 
ˈɪndəstri 
mɔːr ɒn ˈtʊərɪz(ə)m 
ˈveərɪəs hɪsˈtɒrɪkəl saɪts 
fəˈsɪlɪtiz 
ˈdaɪnɪŋ 
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt
ɪn ðə pɑːst
ˈsɛntəd əˈraʊnd 
ˈɛntrəns 
rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
weɪst pɪts 
nɪə 
æz wɛl æz 
ə stɑːf ˈʧeɪnʤɪŋ ruːm 
ˈmɛdɪkəl ruːm 
ˈɪnʤəriz
əˈʤeɪsənt tuː 
ˈslaɪtli ˈfɜːðər əˈweɪ 
ˈpɑːkɪŋ lɒt 
ˈlɒriz
ɪn ðə ˈprɛznt deɪ
rɪˈmeɪnz ðə seɪm 
ˈprɛznt
ˈvɪzɪtəz 
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv 
rɪˈpleɪst baɪ 
ˈfʊtpɑːθ 
ˈliːdɪŋ tuː 
rɪsˈpɛktɪvli
rɪˈmuːvd ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv 
rɪˈzɜːvd fɔː 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

The maps d_________l s______________________s to a f________________n. L_____________________________________________________t the town became l__________________n the i__________y of mining and m_______________m with v_________________________s and f______________s for d________g and e_________________t.

I_______________t, the mining town was c_________________d a mine e__________e for workers and r________________________e. There were two w_________________r the mines a____________s a________________________m and m_________________m for treatment of i___________s. A___________o the mine was also an office building and s_______________________y was the p_______________t for cars and l___________s.

I__________________y, the parking lot for cars r___________________e and the mine is still p_________t, though it is now for v_________s i___________f workers. The office and changing rooms have been r_____________y a museum while the lorry parking space and medical area have become a f_________h (l_____________o a children’s playground) and a cafe, r_____________y. Finally, the waste pits have been r__________________________f a driving truck track and an area r______________r picnics.

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.loveexploring.com/gallerylist/67994/the-eerie-american-gold-rush-ghost-towns-you-can-visit

Speaking Practice

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

Work (Model answer available on my Patreon)

  1. Do you work or are you a student?
  2. Do you like your current job?
  3. In the future, do you want to change jobs?

Writing Practice

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

IELTS Essay: Map of Pentland

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