This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a floorplan/map of a theatre.
Please consider supporting my efforts to creative high quality IELTS materials for students around the world by signing up for my Patreon (and so you won’t miss out on any of my exclusive IELTS Ebooks)!
Dave
IELTS Essay Task 1: Floorplan of a Theatre
The plans below show a theatre in 2010 and 2012. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

The above floor plan delineates a theatre in 2010 and in 2012 after renovations. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there was a general expansion of facilities allowing for both more customer-oriented business and staff activity.
In 2010, the smaller theater was centred around a large auditorium (unchanged in 2012) with a large dressing room space behind it and a storage area in the top right corner. By 2012, the storage room had moved to the bottom left corner in favour of an administration office, while the dressing room was repositioned to a smaller room in a new wing of the building on the left side, which also includes a room for showers. Replacing the long dressing room is a coordination area.
Near to the entrance, there is now a large restaurant occupying previously empty space and requiring the relocation of the admin and ticket offices (the former is now to the right of the office, displacing a cafe). The main door has remained the same and there are no other alterations since 2010.
Analysis
1. The above floor plan delineates a theatre in 2010 and in 2012 after renovations. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there was a general expansion of facilities allowing for both more customer-oriented business and staff activity.
- Paraphrase what the map or floorplan shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the major trends and differences.
1. In 2010, the smaller theater was centred around a large auditorium (unchanged in 2012) with a large dressing room space behind it and a storage area in the top right corner. 2. By 2012, the storage room had moved to the bottom left corner in favour of an administration office, while the dressing room was repositioned to a smaller room in a new wing of the building on the left side, which also includes a room for showers. 3. Replacing the long dressing room is a coordination area.
- Begin writing about the changes.
- Compare as much as possible.
- Vary some long and short sentences.
1. Near to the entrance, there is now a large restaurant occupying previously empty space and requiring the relocation of the admin and ticket offices (the former is now to the right of the office, displacing a cafe). 2. The main door has remained the same and there are no other alterations since 2010.
- Write about the rest of the floorplan.
- Make sure you have detailed all the information, even what has not changed.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The above floor plan delineates a theatre in 2010 and in 2012 after renovations. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that there was a general expansion of facilities allowing for both more customer-oriented business and staff activity.
In 2010, the smaller theater was centred around a large auditorium (unchanged in 2012) with a large dressing room space behind it and a storage area in the top right corner. By 2012, the storage room had moved to the bottom left corner in favour of an administration office, while the dressing room was repositioned to a smaller room in a new wing of the building on the left side, which also includes a room for showers. Replacing the long dressing room is a coordination area.
Near to the entrance, there is now a large restaurant occupying previously empty space and requiring the relocation of the admin and ticket offices (the former is now to the right of the office, displacing a cafe). The main door has remained the same and there are no other alterations since 2010.
Answers
floor plan blueprint
delineates shows
renovations changes
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
general expansion got bigger
facilities allowing for places where they can…
customer-oriented business services/products to sell
staff activity for people working there
centred around related to
auditorium place to watch
unchanged still the same
in the top right corner towards to top on the right side
in favour of replaced by
administration office place to do paperwork
repositioned exchanged
wing section
replacing in favour of
near to the entrance close to where you enter
occupying previously taking the place of
requiring needing
relocation moving
the former mentioned first
displacing taking the place of
remained the same unchanged
alterations changes
Pronunciation
flɔː plæn
dɪˈlɪnɪeɪts
ˌrɛnəʊˈveɪʃənz
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
ˈʤɛnərəl ɪksˈpænʃən
fəˈsɪlɪtiz əˈlaʊɪŋ fɔː
ˈkʌstəmər-ˈɔːriəntɪd ˈbɪznɪs
stɑːf ækˈtɪvɪti
ˈsɛntəd əˈraʊnd
ˌɔːdɪˈtɔːrɪəm
ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
ɪn ðə tɒp raɪt ˈkɔːnə
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ədˌmɪnɪsˈtreɪʃ(ə)n ˈɒfɪs
ˌriːpəˈzɪʃənd
wɪŋ
rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ
nɪə tuː ði ˈɛntrəns
ˈɒkjʊpaɪɪŋ ˈpriːviəsli
rɪˈkwaɪərɪŋ
ˌriːləʊˈkeɪʃən
ðə ˈfɔːmə
dɪsˈpleɪsɪŋ
rɪˈmeɪnd ðə seɪm
ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The above f__________n d_____________s a theatre in 2010 and in 2012 after r_____________________s. L_________________________________________________t there was a g__________________n of f____________________r both more c______________________________s and s______________y.
In 2010, the smaller theater was c______________d a large a_______________m (u______________d in 2012) with a large dressing room space behind it and a storage area i_____________________________r. By 2012, the storage room had moved to the bottom left corner i_______________f an a______________________e, while the dressing room was r_________________d to a smaller room in a new w____g of the building on the left side, which also includes a room for showers. R_____________g the long dressing room is a coordination area.
N__________________________e, there is now a large restaurant o___________________________y empty space and r____________g the r_____________n of the admin and ticket offices (t___________________r is now to the right of the office, d_______________g a cafe). The main door has r______________________e and there are no other a____________s since 2010.
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl_u4XndmbA&t=78s
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Art
- Have you ever been to an art gallery?
- Would you like to learn more about art?
- Do you hang any art in your home?
- Do people in your country enjoy making art?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related map below and then check with my sample answer:

Nice
This is so helpful! Thank yo so much.
Thank you so much for this! Great help 🙂
You’re welcome!
is it acceptable to use this method below?
Introduction (paraphrasing the question)
Overall(identifying and reporting the main features)
In 2010 ( reporting the floor plan as its seen in the diagram)
In 2012 (reporting the floor plan as its seen in the image)
This was the first idea that popped in my head.
Yes, that is fine but I think it is better and easier to compare them in the same paragraph.
Try writing it and see what works for you, Bike.
Can we start overall directly in introduction part? I mean, in my institue, they opposed to this statement to write or start overall after or with introduction and they suggests us to write at last of the task1. Please response me and I’m be very thankful to you!
Anywhere you place it in the essay is fine, Karan.
There is nothing in the band descriptors about the location of your overview.
Hi Dave had a doubt in the second paragraph.
Since the year 2012 is in the past so can we put is?
Hi Mansi, it depends on what part of the essay. In the first sentence it is fine to use present simple.
If you were consistent, you could also keep it in present simple since you are looking at the map as an image in the present, though it would sound a little unnatural.