Home ›IELTS Writing Task 1 Topics › Map — Riverside town centre development
Academic Task 1 — map: Map — Riverside town centre development. This page gives the exam question and a band 9 model answer, with tips on selecting and comparing the key data. Aim for at least 150 words in about 20 minutes.
The maps below show the centre of Riverside town in 1990 and the present day.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
The maps illustrate how the centre of Riverside town has changed between 1990 and the present day.
Overall, the town centre has undergone substantial redevelopment, transforming from a relatively simple layout with extensive green space and a limited range of facilities into a more modern and commercialised urban area. While several public amenities have been added and the road system has been upgraded, some green areas and older buildings have been removed or repurposed.
In 1990, the northern part of the town was dominated by a large park situated beside the river, with a car park to the west and a library to the east. South of these facilities, there were several shops, a post office, a bank and a school surrounded by open green areas. The road network was relatively straightforward, consisting mainly of two intersecting roads.
At present, the town centre is considerably more developed. The former park along the river has been replaced by a landscaped pedestrian area known as Riverside Walk, while the original bridge has been converted into a pedestrian bridge. The car park has been expanded into a multi-storey facility, and the library has been replaced by a community centre.
Further south, commercial development has intensified. The post office has been removed and replaced by a large retail area and a café and restaurant complex. Although the bank has remained in its original location, a supermarket has been constructed adjacent to it, while offices now occupy the site previously used for shops. The former school and surrounding green space have been redeveloped into a town square featuring a central fountain. In addition, a roundabout has been introduced at the main intersection, improving traffic circulation throughout the town centre.
In summary, Riverside town has evolved from a predominantly residential and recreational area into a more commercial, pedestrian-friendly and modern urban centre.
Maps: describe location with direction language (north of, adjacent to, replaced by). Compare the same place at two time points. Note what disappeared, what was built, and what stayed unchanged — that often forms your overview.
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