This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of the university sports courts from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: University Sports Courts
The maps below shows university sports courts in 1990 and now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The map describes how a university sports courts area has changed from 1990 to the present day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the number of total courts for tennis and basketball has increased at the expense of parking and a park, while a formal building with a gym now houses various exercise facilities. These changes allow for more varied activity.
In 1990, on the left side of the map was a park with trees and grass as well as a car park. Today, the park has been replaced by a large basketball court and the car park by 4 tennis courts.
On the right side of the map, a structure to contain the various athletic facilities has been erected with only the indoor pool and reception area in the same position in the new building. The changing room beneath the reception area and pool has been lengthened and moved slightly to the right so as to line up directly above a new, large fitness centre. The fitness centre has replaced two tennis courts, now outside the main building.
Analysis
1. The map describes how a university sports courts area has changed from 1990 to the present day. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the number of total courts for tennis and basketball has increased at the expense of parking and a park, while a formal building with a gym now houses various exercise facilities. 3. These changes allow for more varied activity.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a general over for the map.
- Include the major changes and group them generally.
1. In 1990, on the left side of the map was a park with trees and grass as well as a car park. 2. Today, the park has been replaced by a large basketball court and the car park by 4 tennis courts.
- Begin to describe the changes.
- Be sure to compare as much as possible.
1. On the right side of the map, a structure to contain the various athletic facilities has been erected with only the indoor pool and reception area in the same position in the new building. 2. The changing room beneath the reception area and pool has been lengthened and moved slightly to the right so as to line up directly above a new, large fitness centre. 3. The fitness centre has replaced two tennis courts, now outside the main building.
- Switch to another part of the map.
- Don’t include any opinion and don’t forget any areas.
- 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:
The map describes how a university sports courts area has changed from 1990 to the present day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the number of total courts for tennis and basketball has increased at the expense of parking and a park, while a formal building with a gym now houses various exercise facilities. These changes allow for more varied activity.
In 1990, on the left side of the map was a park with trees and grass as well as a car park. Today, the park has been replaced by a large basketball court and the car park by 4 tennis courts.
On the right side of the map, a structure to contain the various athletic facilities has been erected with only the indoor pool and reception area in the same position in the new building. The changing room beneath the reception area and pool has been lengthened and moved slightly to the right so as to line up directly above a new, large fitness centre. The fitness centre has replaced two tennis courts, now outside the main building.
Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:
describes shows
university sports courts places to play at college
present day right now
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
total courts complete number of fields/courts
at the expense of instead of
while although
formal building actual construction
houses various exercise facilities keeps different places inside it
allow for enable
varied activity different hobbies
on the left side of to the left of
as well as and
replaced by in favor of
on the right side of to the right of
structure building
contain kept inside
erected built
indoor inside
reception area place you first walk in
same position unchanged
changing room beneath place to change your clothes under
lengthened made longer
moved slightly to the right pushed a little to the right
so as to in order to
line up directly stand right about
fitness centre gym
outside outdoors, not inside
Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:
dɪsˈkraɪbz
ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsɪti spɔːts kɔːts
ˈprɛznt deɪ
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
ˈtəʊtl kɔːts
æt ði ɪksˈpɛns ɒv
waɪl
ˈfɔːməl ˈbɪldɪŋ
ˈhaʊzɪz ˈveərɪəs ˈɛksəsaɪz fəˈsɪlɪtiz
əˈlaʊ fɔː
ˈveərɪd ækˈtɪvɪti
ɒn ðə lɛft saɪd ɒv
æz wɛl æz
rɪˈpleɪst baɪ
ɒn ðə raɪt saɪd ɒv
ˈstrʌkʧə
kənˈteɪn
ɪˈrɛktɪd
ˈɪndɔː
rɪˈsɛpʃən ˈeərɪə
seɪm pəˈzɪʃən
ˈʧeɪnʤɪŋ ruːm bɪˈniːθ
ˈlɛŋθənd
muːvd ˈslaɪtli tuː ðə raɪt
səʊ æz tuː
laɪn ʌp dɪˈrɛktli
ˈfɪtnɪs ˈsɛntə
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:
The map d______________s how a u_______________________s area has changed from 1990 to the p___________y. L________________________________________________t the number of t____________s for tennis and basketball has increased a_______________________f parking and a park, w_______e a f_____________g with a gym now h_________________________________s. These changes a___________r more v_____________y.
In 1990, o_________________f the map was a park with trees and grass a_____________s a car park. Today, the park has been r_____________y a large basketball court and the car park by 4 tennis courts.
O___________________f the map, a s_____________e to c__________n the various athletic facilities has been e_______d with only the i_______r pool and r________________a in the s___________n in the new building. The c______________________h the reception area and pool has been l______________d and m______________________________t s____________o l_______________y above a new, large fitness centre. The f____________________e has replaced two tennis courts, now o___________e the main building.
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities
Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:
https://origympersonaltrainercourses.co.uk/blog/best-sport-universities
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Sports
- Which sport do you like to play?
- Have you ever been on a sports team?
- Do you like watching sports on TV?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related map below and then check with my sample answer:

The picture compares the distribution of university sports courts between 1990 and today.
There are more sports courts showing up, such as basketball court and fitness centre, while a park and a car park are removed. Some courts, like cafe, reception, swimming pool and changing room are built indoors now.
On the left part of the sport area, a park is replaced by a basketball court. A tennis court is moved from the right bottom area to the location where there was a car park in 1990. Moreover, the number of tennis courts is raised from two to four.
On the right part of the sport area, all courts and buildings are enclosed in a huge building. The cafe, reception and swimming pool stay in the same position, but the swimming pool is changed into an indoor pool now. The changing room is enlarged and moved to the bottom of the swimming pool. A new fitness centre is built in the bottom of changing room which was the position of tennis court.
Gud dude
.
Hope it’s helpful, Deepanshu!
Thanks. Valuable information.
You’re welcome, Meet!
The maps derail the changes to a university sports courts in the year 1999 and at present. Overall, the court was on a rectangular area with all the facilities within in and the major changes that happened was the total removal of the car park and park which were replaced with basket and tennis courts and in all, the court became a complete sporting facility.
In 1990, two large parks occupied the western side of the court and the sports centre was in the Eastern angle. A cafe was situated at the northern tip with the reception next to it, and the changing room beside the reception. An outdoor pool stood on the northeastern side while the tennis court was placed at the southeast end.
As of now, the southwest top of the court has the basketball court, a replacement with the parks that once was there, and the tennis court sits just at the southwestern bottom ( it was relocated from its original position at the southeast). The changing room was shifted to now stand next to the fitness centre, a new addition to the sports complex. Only the outdoor maintained its original position over the years.