Intensive English 3

Unit 5: Writing Skills

TASK FOCUS
2. Look at the IELTS task and answer the questions below.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The two maps show a town in 1996 and in 2016.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

TASK FOCUS
2. Look at the IELTS task and answer the questions below.

1996 2016
TASK FOCUS
2. Look at the IELTS task and answer the questions below.

1. Identify the changes in the maps.

2. Which changes do you think are the most important?
3. Your writing will be clearer if you put changes into groups. Write the
opposite of the changes below.
The first one has been done for you.

A. Changes north of the river Changes south of the river

B. Changes to commercial building _______________________
C. Changes to natural areas _______________________
 GET TO KNOW IELTS

3. Read the extracts from the Grammatical Range and Accuracy

assessment criteria for IELTS level 5 and 6. Then read the
extracts from two candidates’ descriptions of the maps, in
activity 2. What level do you think the candidates are for
Grammatical Range and Accuracy?

IELTS level 6 candidates …

use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms.

IELTS level 5 candidates …

attempt complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than
simple sentences.
GET TO KNOW IELTS
3. Read the extracts from the Grammatical Range and Accuracy
assessment criteria for IELTS level 5 and 6. Then read the
extracts from two candidates’ descriptions of the maps, in
activity 2. What level do you think the candidates are for
Grammatical Range and Accuracy?
Candidate A
In 1996 it was a village. Now it is a small town. The area is probably
richer now. There are more houses. There is now a hotel in the north.
There were old farm buildings although these are now a school.
Candidate B
Although the area was once a village, it is now a small town. There
have been a number of changes, such as the extra housing in the
area. Where there was once an old farm building, there is now a
school to the west of the city. In the north, a new hotel has been
constructed. Residents are probably happier because they have more
facilities than in the past.
GET TO KNOW IELTS
4. Look at the candidates’ answers in activity 3 again and
underline the complex sentences.

Candidate A
In 1996 it was a village. Now it is a small town. The area is probably
richer now. There are more houses. There is now a hotel in the north.
There were old farm buildings although these are now a school.
Candidate B
Although the area was once a village, it is now a small town. There
have been a number of changes, such as the extra housing in the
area. Where there was once an old farm building, there is now a
school to the west of the city. In the north, a new hotel has been
constructed. Residents are probably happier because they have more
facilities than in the past.
IELTS SKILLS
5. One sentence in each of the candidates’ answers in activity 3
is not relevant to the task. Identify these sentences and
explain to your partner why they are not relevant.

Candidate A
In 1996 it was a village. Now it is a small town. The area is probably
richer now. There are more houses. There is now a hotel in the north.
There were old farm buildings although these are now a school.
Candidate B
Although the area was once a village, it is now a small town. There
have been a number of changes, such as the extra housing in the
area. Where there was once an old farm building, there is now a
school to the west of the city. In the north, a new hotel has been
constructed. Residents are probably happier because they have more
facilities than in the past.
GET TO KNOW IELTS
6. Which three of the following
sentences would be relevant in a
response to the task in activity 2?

1. The population of the settlement

has grown.
2. Building houses close to the river
could be dangerous.
3. The settlement now has facilities
for its inhabitants.
4. The settlement has become less
attractive.
5. Some natural features of the
village have been lost.
6. These changes are typical of
modern towns.
 Candidate B

Although the area was once a village, it is now a small

GET TO KNOW IELTS
town. There have been a number of changes, such as the
7. Which sentence extra housing in the area. Where there was once an old
from candidate B’s
answer in activity 3 farm building, there is now a school to the west of the city.
summarises the
changes in the In the north, a new hotel has been constructed. Residents
maps? are probably happier because they have more facilities
than in the past.
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR IELTS
8. Match the words to the definitions

1. construct (verb) A. To make longer

2. cut down (phrasal verb) B. To make bigger
3. develop (verb) C. To put something in a place
4. expand (verb) D. To remove trees
5. extend (verb) E. To change one thing for another
6. demolish (verb) F. To destroy a building
7. locate (verb)
G. To grow or become more advanced
8. replace (verb)
H. To build
USEFUL LANGUAGE FOR IELTS

9. Look at the maps from activity 2 and complete the sentences

below with words from activity 8. Change the form of the
verb if necessary. The first one has been done for you.

1. The trees have been cut down to make room for a new road.
2. The road has been _________
extened to the south.
3. The space used for housing has _________
expanedÿ throughout the area.
4. The old farm buildings have been _________
replace with a school.
5. The windmill has been _________
demolished and there are now tennis courts
where it used to be.
constructed
6. Shops have been _________ in the south east of the town.
7. located
There is now a playground _________ in the south east.
8. The area has been _________
developed and modernised.
 IELTS PRACTICE
10. Look at the IELTS task below and plan your response.
You should …
• make notes on the main changes
• write down verbs you can use to describe the changes
• think of words that describe the locations of features on the map.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The two maps show a park in 2010 and in 2016.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main

features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS PRACTICE
10. Look at the IELTS task below and plan your response.

Milton Park – 2010 Milton Park – 2016

IELTS PRACTICE 11. Compare the plan you made
in activity 10 with a partner. Try
to find ideas in your partner’s
plan that you can also use.
IELTS PRACTICE

12. Write your full

response to the task in
activity 10