Sample IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and now

IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now belongs to the Map task type. Although this is not an overly complex topic, candidates need to pay attention to certain details and develop a detailed outline in order to secure a high band score. So let's take a look at some suggestions and a sample response prepared by a PREP top-tier teacher.

I. IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now

The task: The map below shows a school in 1985 and the school now. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

II. Suggestions for Solving the Task and Outlining IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now

Before reviewing the IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now, let's go through the suggestions for solving the task and a detailed outline.

1. Task Suggestions

The topic IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now is a Map task. To "handle" this seemingly complex task, candidates need to pay attention to a few key points:

• Candidates should focus on describing the most prominent and important changes in the area required by the IELTS Writing Task 1 topic. In addition, candidates should organize the descriptive information in a certain order (from the most prominent locations to the least prominent, from the systems that span the entire area to the specific locations).

• Candidates should strive to describe the map in the IELTS Writing Task 1 topic thoroughly in order to achieve the optimal band score for the Task Achievement (Task Response) criterion.

• Candidates need to be proficient in the English verbs related to describing maps in IELTS Writing Task 1, such as: locate, situate, reside, encircle, open, redesign into, expand into, construct, etc.

• Candidates should apply diverse sentence structures in their writing, such as using gerunds, inversions, passive voice, reduced relative clauses, pronouns, etc.

• Candidates should pay attention to using the correct verb tenses to avoid losing points.

2. Detailed outline

III. Sample essay for IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and now

Below is a sample response for IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now with a band score of 7.0+ prepared by a top-tier teacher at PREP. Carefully review this sample to effectively practice for the IELTS Writing Task 1 at home.

The given diagrams compare the layout of a school in 1985 with its present-day one. Overall, the school has undergone many changes to accommodate the growing number of students over the given period of three decades.

After more than 30 years, the student population has grown from 1500 to 2300. In 1985, the entrance and exit were in the north, on the two sides of a rectangular car park. There was a playing field occupying a substantial area in the south, and a road running along the periphery of the car park connecting the entry and the exit. This road extended along the center to the playing area. An office was in the northwest of the road. To the south of the office, there was a library, which extended into the play area. Another smaller car park and some classrooms were there on the east of the office and library.  A two-story classroom block was located towards the east of the road.

In the present layout, the rectangular car park has been replaced by a bigger, semi-circular car park. The road connecting the car park to the playing fields, and the smaller car park have been removed, while the entrance, exit, and office have remained unchanged. A learning resource center and a computer room have taken the place of the old library. The area of the playing fields has been cut down to make room for a pool and fitness center. Another story has been added to the two-story classroom block with some trees planted in the place of the road. Some more classrooms have been constructed to the south of the three-story classroom block.

Some high-scoring vocabulary words in the IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now:

• Layout (n): the way in which the parts of something are arranged or laid out.

• Accommodate (v): provide lodging or sufficient space for.

• Rectangular (adj): having the shape of a rectangle; square or oblong.

• Substantial (adj): of considerable importance, size, or worth.

• Extend (v): stretch or spread out over a larger area.

• Periphery (n): the outer limits or boundary of an area or object.

• Semi-circular (adj): having the shape of half a circle.

• Remove (v): take away; get rid of.

• Construct (v): build or make (something).

This article provides a sample of IELTS Writing Task 1: School in 1985 and Now with a band score of 7.0+ prepared by a top-tier teacher at PREP. Review it thoroughly to effectively practice for the IELTS exam and confidently handle other Map-type tasks.