Academic Task 1 · Maps and plans
A proposed station square
An original IELTS practice question with a planning route and a sample answer to learn from.
Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes. Suggested practice level: advanced, not a predicted band.
Your writing task
The plans show a station square in 2025 and a proposed design for the same area in 2028. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Open full-size diagram (new tab)How to approach this question
Summarise the main changes, group features by location and distinguish what changed from what stayed the same.
Maps and plans: compare completed changes and proposals →
Overview selection: compare planned replacement of vehicle facilities and lawn with the retained station, cafe, entrance and road. The right-hand plan is a proposal, not evidence that construction has happened.
Detail grouping: compare the western car park and taxi rank before turning to the southeastern lawn and new central path. Use the north arrow for locations; do not infer parking capacity, costs or reductions in traffic.
These are possible directions, not required opinions or facts to memorise. Develop your own response and check every claim against the task.
A possible plan
- Introduction: identify what is shown, including the time period or stages where relevant.
- Overview: select the largest changes, main contrasts or overall process without inventing causes.
- Details 1: group related features and support them with accurate data, locations or stages.
- Details 2: cover the remaining main features and make relevant comparisons. Check units, dates and direction of change.
Vocabulary you can use precisely
Choose language that fits your meaning. You do not need to include every phrase.
- would be replaced by
- Would give way to a different feature if a proposal were carried out.
The taxi rank would be replaced by a bus stop.
- would remain in place
- Would stay at the same location under the proposed arrangement.
The cafe would remain in place to the east of the square.
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