This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of a ground floor in a building and containing 3 maps.
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You can find maps here and line charts here and bar charts here.
Dave
IELTS Task 1 Essay: Building with 3 Maps

The floorplan shows how a building has changed from 1958 to the present day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the building has served both commercial and residential purposes with the only area remaining unchanged being the kitchen. At present, the flower shop has a more open layout relative to when it was an apartment and office.
In 1958, the building was used as an office with a meeting room in the top left corner of the floorplan, an assistant’s and secretary’s office below there and a toilet in the bottom left corner. In 1985, the meeting room was extended and turned into a living room and a large bathroom and shower took the place of the offices and toilet. The florist shop contained a gift card room in the top left, above a large open space for flowers and a play area in the bottom left corner.
On the right side, the kitchen in the top corner was unaltered across all iterations of the ground floor. In comparison, there was a manager’s office on the right hand side and a reception area in the bottom corner. These spaces were allocated for bedrooms in the apartment and are now an office and additional space for flowers.
Analysis
1. The floorplan shows how a building has changed from 1958 to the present day. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the building has served both commercial and residential purposes with the only area remaining unchanged being the kitchen. 3. At present, the flower shop has a more open layout relative to when it was an apartment and office.
- Paraphrase what the map shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
- Add a second sentence to make sure everything is covered.
1. In 1958, the building was used as an office with a meeting room in the top left corner of the floorplan, an assistant’s and secretary’s office below there and a toilet in the bottom left corner. 2. In 1985, the meeting room was extended and turned into a living room and a large bathroom and shower took the place of the offices and toilet. 3. The florist shop contained a gift card room in the top left, above a large open space for flowers and a play area in the bottom left corner.
- Begin writing about the map.
- Make sure you compare as much as possible.
- Don’t leave anything out.
1. On the right side, the kitchen in the top corner was unaltered across all iterations of the ground floor. 2. In comparison, there was a manager’s office on the right hand side and a reception area in the bottom corner. 3. These spaces were allocated for bedrooms in the apartment and are now an office and additional space for flowers.
- Write about the final, other parts of the map – include everything!
- Compare the categories.
- Add in everything, even what has not changed.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:
The floorplan shows how a building has changed from 1958 to the present day. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the building has served both commercial and residential purposes with the only area remaining unchanged being the kitchen. At present, the flower shop has a more open layout relative to when it was an apartment and office.
In 1958, the building was used as an office with a meeting room in the top left corner of the floor, an assistant’s and secretary’s office below there and a toilet in the bottom left corner. In 1985, the meeting room was extended and turned into a living room and a large bathroom and shower took the place of the offices and toilet. The florist shop contained a gift card room in the top left, above a large open space for flowers and a play area in the bottom left corner.
On the right side, the kitchen in the top corner was unaltered across all iterations of the ground floor. In comparison, there was a manager’s office on the right hand side and a reception area in the bottom corner. These spaces were allocated for bedrooms in the apartment and are now an office and additional space for flowers.
Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:
floorplan blueprint
from … to the present day starting then up until now
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
served both commercial and residential purposes was for business and for living
remaining unchanged was not altered
At present now
open layout lots of space
relative to when compared to the time
meeting room place to meet
top left corner northwest
assistant’s people helping out
secretary’s office below assistant’s working space under that
bottom left corner southwest
extended lengthened
turned into transformed into
took the place of replaced
florist shop contained flower shop has
gift card room place to sell cards
play area where kid’s can play
unaltered across all iterations of the ground floor didn’t change through the years
In comparison compared to that
manager’s boss’s
on the right hand side to the right
reception area area to get help from a receptionist
allocated for made for
additional extra
Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:
flɔː plæn
frɒm … tuː ðə ˈprɛznt deɪ
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
sɜːvd bəʊθ kəˈmɜːʃəl ænd ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl ˈpɜːpəsɪz
rɪˈmeɪnɪŋ ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
æt ˈprɛznt
ˈəʊpən ˈleɪaʊt
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː wɛn
ˈmiːtɪŋ ruːm
tɒp lɛft ˈkɔːnə
əˈsɪstənts
ˈsɛkrətriz ˈɒfɪs bɪˈləʊ
ˈbɒtəm lɛft ˈkɔːnə
ɪksˈtɛndɪd
tɜːnd ˈɪntuː
tʊk ðə pleɪs ɒv
ˈflɒrɪst ʃɒp kənˈteɪnd
ɡɪft kɑːd ruːm
pleɪ ˈeərɪə
ʌnˈɔːltəd əˈkrɒs ɔːl ˌɪtəˈreɪʃᵊnz ɒv ðə ɡraʊnd flɔː
ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn
ˈmænɪʤəz
ɒn ðə raɪt hænd saɪd
rɪˈsɛpʃᵊn ˈeərɪə
ˈæləʊkeɪtɪd fɔː
əˈdɪʃənl
Vocabulary Practice
The f_________n shows how a building has changed f____m 1958 t_________________y. L______________________________________________________________t the building has s_____________________________________________s with the only area r_____________________d being the kitchen. A_________________t, the flower shop has a more o_____________________________n it was an apartment and office.
In 1958, the building was used as an office with a m_________________m in the t______________r of the floor, an a_______________s and s________________________w there and a toilet in the b__________________r. In 1985, the meeting room was e___________d and t______________o a living room and a large bathroom and shower t___________________f the offices and toilet. The f______________________d a g__________d room in the top left, above a large open space for flowers and a p__________a in the bottom left corner.
On the right side, the kitchen in the top corner was u______________________________________________________r. I_______________n, there was a m___________s office o___________________e and a r_____________a in the bottom corner. These spaces were a______________r bedrooms in the apartment and are now an office and a_______________l space for flowers.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://thursd.com/articles/8-floral-shops-from-around-the-world-you-should-visit
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Offices
- Do you work in an office?
- Is it common for people in your country to work in office?
- Where do most of your friends work?
- Would you like to design an office?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related map below and then check with my sample answer:
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