This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of a museum in 1990 and 2010child from the real IELTS exam.

Find my full IELTS Ebooks here.

You can find line charts here and bar charts here.

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IELTS Task 1 Essay: Map of a Museum in 1990 and 2010

The diagrams show a museum and its surroundings in 1990 and 2010.

The map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased the square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the surrounding area to allow for greater access and leisure.

Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various exhibition spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. By 2010, the only modification was that the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent exhibition room.

Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. The paths and roads as well as the garden above the car park were unchanged. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left corner across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

Analysis

1. The map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased the square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the surrounding area to allow for greater access and leisure.

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

1. Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various exhibition spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. 2. By 2010, the only modification was that the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent exhibition room.

  1. Begin writing about the map.
  2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. 2. The paths and roads as well as the garden above the car park were unchanged. 3. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left corner across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

  1. Write about the final, other parts of the map – include everything!
  2. Compare the categories.
  3. 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 map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased the square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the surrounding area to allow for greater access and leisure.

Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various exhibition spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. By 2010, the only modification was that the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent exhibition room.

Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. The paths and roads as well as the garden above the car park were unchanged. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left corner across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

Answers

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

details shows

renovations changes

surrounding grounds area around it

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

square footage how large it is inside

exhibitions places to display art

outside not inside

significant alterations big changes

surrounding area places around it

allow for give the possibility of

greater access more ability to get there

leisure relaxation

internally inside

contained what is inside

store room place to keep things

various exhibition spaces different art rooms

all sides all around it

small shop little store

modification change

extended towards lengthened in the direction of

at the expense of over

main structure big building

largest single change biggest one alteration

expansion making bigger

subsumed combined into, taken over

garden place for plants and trees

beneath under

paths roads

roads streets

as well as and

unchanged the same

final difference last alteration

across from on the other side of

renovated changed

cafe coffee shop

Pronunciation

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

ˈdiːteɪlz 
ˌrɛnəʊˈveɪʃənz 
səˈraʊndɪŋ graʊndz 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt 
skweə ˈfʊtɪʤ 
ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃənz 
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz 
səˈraʊndɪŋ ˈeərɪə 
əˈlaʊ fɔː 
ˈgreɪtər ˈæksɛs 
ˈlɛʒə
ɪnˈtɜːnəli
kənˈteɪnd 
stɔː ruːm 
ˈveərɪəs ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən ˈspeɪsɪz 
ɔːl saɪdz
smɔːl ʃɒp 
ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən 
ɪksˈtɛndɪd təˈwɔːdz 
æt ði ɪksˈpɛns ɒv 
meɪn ˈstrʌkʧə 
ˈlɑːʤɪst ˈsɪŋgl ʧeɪnʤ 
ɪksˈpænʃən 
səbˈsjuːmd 
ˈgɑːdn 
bɪˈniːθ 
pɑːðz 
rəʊdz 
æz wɛl æz 
ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd 
ˈfaɪnl ˈdɪfrəns 
əˈkrɒs frɒm 
ˈrɛnəʊveɪtɪd 
ˈkæfeɪ

Vocabulary Practice

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

The map d__________s r________________s to a museum and the s_________________s from 1990 to 2010. L__________________________________________________t the museum itself decreased the s_____________e for e_____________s and o_______e there were s_____________________s to the s________________a to a_______r g______________s and l_________e.

I__________y, the museum in 1990 c________d a s________m in the top left corner, v___________________s on a_____________s, and a s_________p in the bottom right. By 2010, the only m__________n was that the shop was e______________s the left a__________________f the adjacent exhibition room.

Outside the m_________________e, the l_________________________e was the e__________n of the car park on the right side which s___________d a g________________h it. The p______s and r______s a__________s the garden above the car park were u_________d. The f_________________e was the cottage in the bottom left corner a_____________m the museum was r____________d to become a c___e.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheArtInstituteofChicago

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours

Speaking Practice

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

Museums

  1. Have you ever been to a museum?
  2. What kind of art is in museums in your country?
  3. Did you parents take you to museums as a child?
  4. Are museums common in your country?

Writing Practice

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

ielts essay task 1 museums

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