IELTS Writing Task 1: Millfield Town Centre Map Comparison

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Writing Prompt

The two maps below show the centre of the town of Millfield as it was in 2005 and as it is today. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Show Band 8–9 model answer

The maps illustrate how the centre of Millfield has changed between 2005 and the present day.

Overall, the town centre has been significantly modernised, with industrial and vacant land replaced by residential and commercial developments, and with road access in the central area largely converted to pedestrian use.

In 2005, the dominant feature on the western side of the river was a factory, while an open field occupied the south-east corner near the High Street. Houses were located to the north-east, and a car park lay directly south of the High Street, which was open to traffic.

Today, the factory has been demolished and replaced by a large shopping centre, indicating a shift from manufacturing to retail. The open field in the south-east has been developed into an apartment block, increasing residential density. The original housing area to the north-east has been retained, suggesting some continuity in the town’s layout.

In terms of infrastructure, the former car park south of the High Street has disappeared, and this central stretch of road has been converted into a pedestrian zone. In addition, a new footbridge now spans the River Mill, improving access between the two banks and integrating the shopping centre more closely with the rest of the town.

Why this response works

This response provides a clear overview, highlighting main developments and general trends rather than isolated details. Key features are accurately selected and compared, with all major changes (factory to shopping centre, field to apartments, pedestrianisation, new footbridge) clearly described. Organisation is logical, moving from overall trends to specific spatial changes. A wide range of vocabulary (e.g. “modernised”, “residential density”, “shift from manufacturing to retail”) and varied structures (passive forms, participle clauses, contrastive linkers) are used flexibly and naturally, with precise grammar and no significant errors, consistent with a very high band.