This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of a map of west park secondary school from the real IELTS exam.

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Dave

IELTS Writing Task 1: Map West Park Secondary School

The map describes changes to West Park Secondary School over a period from 1950 to 2010. Overall, West Park Secondary School contained fewer buildings in 1950 and was located nearer residential and agricultural land. By 2010, several facilities had been added for students and there was the notable addition of a large car park.

In 1950, 3 rows of houses were located to the left of the school, just above a large section of farmland and a playground attached to the school. By 1980, there were significant alterations related to housing. The former houses were replaced by a car park and science block and the farmland was removed in favor of a sports field. The playground remained unchanged.

By 2010, the playground had been reduced in size in order to make room for a small sports field. The most significant change by this time was the expansion of the car park overtaking the area previously occupied entirely by the sports field. Other structures were unaltered from 1980.

Analysis

1. The map describes changes to West Park Secondary School over a period from 1950 to 2010. 2. Overall, West Park Secondary School contained fewer buildings in 1950 and was located nearer residential and agricultural land. 3. By 2010, several facilities had been added for students and there was the notable addition of a large car park.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a general over for the map. Include the major changes and group them generally.
  3. Include a second sentence to be safe.

1. In 1950, 3 rows of houses were located to the left of the school, just above a large section of farmland and a playground attached to the school. 2. By 1980, there were significant alterations related to housing. 3. The former houses were replaced by a car park and science block and the farmland was removed in favor of a sports field. 4. The playground remained unchanged.

  1. Begin to describe the changes.
  2. Be sure to compare as much as possible.
  3. In this one I separated inside and outside the town itself.

1. By 2010, the playground had been reduced in size in order to make room for a small sports field. 2. The most significant change by this time was the expansion of the car park overtaking the area previously occupied entirely by the sports field. 3. Other structures were unaltered from 1980.

  1. Switch to another part of the map.
  2. Don’t include any opinion and don’t forget any areas.
  3. 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 changes to West Park Secondary School over a period from 1950 to 2010. Overall, West Park Secondary School contained fewer buildings in 1950 and was located nearer residential and agricultural land. By 2010, several facilities had been added for students and there was the notable addition of a large car park.

In 1950, 3 rows of houses were located to the left of the school, just above a large section of farmland and a playground attached to the school. By 1980, there were significant alterations related to housing. The former houses were replaced by a car park and science block and the farmland was removed in favor of a sports field. The playground remained unchanged.

By 2010, the playground had been reduced in size in order to make room for a small sports field. The most significant change by this time was the expansion of the car park overtaking the area previously occupied entirely by the sports field. Other structures were unaltered from 1980.

Answers

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

describes changes shows alterations

over a period fromto … including

overall in general

contained fewer buildings didn’t have as many facilities

located nearer residential closer to homes

agricultural land farms

several facilities different buildings

added put there as well

notable addition significant extra

large car park big place for parking cars

to the left of on the left side of

just above slightly over

section area

attached to connected to

significant alterations big changes

related to concerning

former before

replaced takes the place of

removed in favor of taken away so that

remained unchanged no changes

reduced in size smaller now

in order to so that

make room for to allow for

by this time at this period

expansion getting bigger

overtaking taking the place of

previously occupied where something was before

entirely completely

structures buildings

unaltered no changes made

Pronunciation

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

dɪsˈkraɪbz ˈʧeɪnʤɪz 
ˈəʊvər ə ˈpɪərɪəd frɒm … tuː …
ˈəʊvərɔːl
kənˈteɪnd ˈfjuːə ˈbɪldɪŋz 
ləʊˈkeɪtɪd ˈnɪərə ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl 
ˌægrɪˈkʌlʧərəl lænd
ˈsɛvrəl fəˈsɪlɪtiz 
ˈædɪd 
ˈnəʊtəbl əˈdɪʃ(ə)n 
lɑːʤ kɑː pɑːk
tuː ðə lɛft ɒv 
ʤʌst əˈbʌv 
ˈsɛkʃən 
əˈtæʧt tuː 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz 
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
ˈfɔːmə 
rɪˈpleɪst 
rɪˈmuːvd ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv 
rɪˈmeɪnd ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
rɪˈdjuːst ɪn saɪz 
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː 
meɪk ruːm fɔː 
baɪ ðɪs taɪm 
ɪksˈpænʃən 
ˌəʊvəˈteɪkɪŋ 
ˈpriːviəsli ˈɒkjʊpaɪd 
ɪnˈtaɪəli 
ˈstrʌkʧəz 
ʌnˈɔːltəd 

Vocabulary Practice

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

The map d______________s to West Park Secondary School o____________________m 1950 t____ 2010. O_________l, West Park Secondary School c_________________________s in 1950 and was l__________________________l and a__________________d. By 2010, s______________________s had been a________d for students and there was the n__________________n of a l__________________k.

In 1950, 3 rows of houses were located t_________________f the school, j_________e a large s_________n of farmland and a playground a______________o the school. By 1980, there were s____________________s r____________o housing. The f_______r houses were r__________d by a car park and science block and the farmland was r___________________________f a sports field. The playground r_______________d.

By 2010, the playground had been r____________________e i__________________o m____________________r a small sports field. The most significant change b______________e was the e_____________n of the car park o_____________g the area p_________________________________y by the sports field. Other s_____________s were u________d from 1980.

Listening Practice

Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtPniT0p9K4

Reading Practice

Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.pinnaclearchitecture.com/30-most-amazing-high-school-campuses-in-the-world/

Speaking Practice

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

Where you Live

My sample speaking for these questions is here.

  1. Where are you living at the moment?
  2. What do you like most about your neighborhood?
  3. Are there any shops where you live?

Writing Practice

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

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