IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Industrial Area Map (Band 9 Sample)
This Academic Task 1 asks you to describe two maps: an industrial area now and a planned future redevelopment of the same site. A band-9 response gives an overview of the overall transformation, then reports the specific changes, using accurate location and direction language. Below is a model answer of roughly 185 words, followed by why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
The maps below show an industrial area in the town of Norbiton as it is now, and a plan for its future development. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
186 words · Band 9The two maps show the current layout of an industrial area in the town of Norbiton and a proposal for how the same site will be developed in the future.
Overall, the plan involves a complete change of purpose, transforming a purely industrial zone into a residential neighbourhood with community facilities. The factories that currently occupy the site are all set to be removed and replaced with housing and public services.
At present, the area is dominated by factories clustered around a central roundabout, with farmland and a river to the north and the town lying to the west. Under the plan, every one of these factories is demolished. In their place, several blocks of housing are built, both to the west of the roundabout and, via a new road and bridge across the river, on the far northern bank.
A range of amenities is also introduced. To the east, a school, a medical centre and a playground are added, while shops appear beside the roundabout. A second roundabout is constructed on the road to the south, presumably to manage the increased traffic the new community will generate.
03 · Why this scores Band 9
The response captures the overall transformation in the overview (industrial site to residential neighbourhood) and then reports the specific changes — factories removed, housing and a new river bridge added, plus a school, medical centre, playground and second roundabout. It selects the significant changes rather than listing every building.
The report is organised logically: introduction, overview, then the present situation and the planned changes. Cohesion is natural — "At present", "Under the plan", "In their place", "A range of amenities is also introduced" — and locations are consistently anchored to the roundabout, the river and the compass points.
Map-description vocabulary is precise and varied — "clustered around", "demolished", "in their place", "on the far northern bank", "beside the roundabout" — with accurate direction language ("to the west", "to the east") that lets the reader picture the changes without seeing the maps.
The passive voice is used correctly and extensively for describing changes ("are all set to be removed", "several blocks of housing are built", "a school... are added"), which is exactly what a plan-comparison requires. A purpose clause ("to manage the increased traffic") adds range, and the writing stays error-free.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
What tense should I use for a future development map?
Use the present passive or future forms for the planned changes ("the factories are demolished", "housing will be built"), and the present tense for the current map ("the area is dominated by factories"). Keep the two time frames clearly distinct.
How do I describe locations clearly?
Anchor everything to fixed reference points — the river, the roundabout, the town, and the compass directions ("to the north", "to the east"). Because the examiner cannot assume you both see the map the same way, precise location language is essential for a map task.
Should I use the passive voice?
Yes — for changes done to a place, the passive is ideal ("the factories are removed", "a bridge is built"), because the focus is on what changes, not who does it. A map-comparison answer that never uses the passive usually reads awkwardly.
How long should a Task 1 answer be?
At least 150 words; a band-9 answer is usually 170–200. This model is 186 words, enough to give an overview and report the main changes without listing every detail. Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1.
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