The maps below show the layout of a bookshop before and after it was redeveloped.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 1 question on IELTSX. The maps below show the layout of a bookshop before and after it was redeveloped.

Layout changes of a bookshop before and after redevelopment - IELTS Writing Task 1

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Writing Task 1 chart for Layout changes of a bookshop before and after redevelopment
Chart supplied with the IELTS Writing Task 1 question: Layout changes of a bookshop before and after redevelopment

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 ยท 243 words.

The provided diagrams illustrate the layout of a bookshop in the year 2000 and its current redeveloped floor plan after various renovations.

Overall, the bookshop has undergone significant changes, particularly in the central and right-hand sections. The most notable developments are the removal of the non-fiction section to make way for a cafe and seating area, and the relocation of the remaining book sections from the centre to the top wall.

Looking at the western side of the shop, the entrance, service desk, travel section, and new books area remain in their exact original positions. However, the main structural changes occur in the middle and right. In 2000, the centre featured three small, vertical sections for Art, Hobbies, and Cookery, which were flanked by a large fiction section along the entire top wall and a non-fiction section along the bottom.

Currently, the layout has been completely reorganized. The central areas for Art, Hobbies, and Cookery have been moved to the top wall, joining the existing top Fiction section. These sections now form a continuous row of shelving. The space they previously occupied in the middle of the shop has been converted into a seating area with several tables. Additionally, the original non-fiction section at the bottom right has been removed. In its place, a new cafe has been established, while the non-fiction books have been relocated to a new area on the far right, adjacent to a small bookshelf and a potted plant.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong response that effectively summarizes the key changes in the bookshop layout. The writing is clear, logical, and uses a high level of grammatical accuracy and appropriate vocabulary.

Task Achievement - 8

- All key changes are identified and clearly described. - Provides a strong overview summarizing the main transformations. - Accurate comparison between the 2000 layout and the current floor plan.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Logical organization with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. - Smooth transitions between time periods and spatial locations within the store. - Effective use of referencing (e.g., 'the space they previously occupied').

Lexical Resource - 8

- Wide range of vocabulary specific to map tasks (e.g., 'redeveloped', 'flanked', 'relocated', 'continuous row'). - Precise word choices that convey clear spatial relationships. - Natural use of collocations.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 9

- Excellent control of complex sentence structures and passive voice for describing changes. - Accurate use of prepositions for spatial orientation. - Error-free writing throughout the response.

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