Maps and Plans
Sample Answer
The diagrams show West Park School at three different stages in its development: 1950, 1980 and 2010.
In 1950, the school was built close to a main road and next to a number of houses. A large area behind the school was turned into a playground, while the area behind the houses was farmland.
By 1980, the houses had been demolished in order to make way for a small car park and an additional school building, which became the science block. In addition to the existing playground, the school also gained the farmland and converted it into a sports field.
In 2010, the school building remained unchanged but the car park was extended to cover the entire sports field. As a result of this, the original playground was divided into two so that it provided a smaller playground and a small sports field.
During this period, the school has increased in size and a car park has been created and enlarged. The combined recreational areas, however, first expanded and were then reduced in size.
Sample Answer
Grange Park was opened in 1920, a rectangular area with access from Arnold Avenue on the north side and from Eldon Street on the south side. There was a fountain in the centre, with a stage for musicians situated centre left, a glasshouse to the right of the Eldon Street entrance and a pond for water plants in the north east corner opposite. Around the edges of the park there were rose gardens, with seats nearby for people to smell the flowers and listen to music.
The park has altered considerably since then. Now there is one largeish rose garden, occupying the central area where the fountain stood, and with seats all around it. One of the smaller rose gardens remains on the north side of the park. The bandstand (stage for musicians) has also been replaced, by an amphitheatre for concerts and associated seating. The glasshouse has gone and in its places is a water feature; similarly, where the pond for water plants stood there is now a children’s play area with a cafe nearby. Access to the park is still via the two original entrances, but there is now a third entrance near the water feature from an underground car park.
Despite the apparently significant changes, the park retains the basic elements of flowers, water, seating and music, with the addition of a cafe and a children’s play area.
Sample Answer
The two maps describe an area before and after some developments from 1965 to now.
As can be seen from the plans, the most notable change taking place in the area is the construction of a road bridge, which replaces the ferry.
On the northern side of the road bridge, the forest on the left riverside has been cleared to make way for a large new car park. There is also a small car park which was built on the other side of the river and this car park can be accessed from the main road via a small path. Many houses and apartments were constructed around the car park.
To the south of the bridge, more houses were also built along the main road. Apart from these buildings, there are several changes which are expected to take place by 2018. These developments include a foot bridge which runs parallel to the main road, a yatch marina and a small car park.
Sample Answer
The diagrams illustrate some changes to a small island which has been developed for tourism.
It is clear that the island has changed considerably with the introduction of tourism, and six new features can be seen in the second diagram. The main developments are that the island is accessible and visitors have somewhere to stay.
Looking at the maps in more detail, we can see that small huts have been built to accommodate visitors to the island. The other physical structures that have been added are a reception building, in the middle of the island, and a restaurant to the north of the reception. Before these developments, the island was completely bare apart from a few trees.
As well as the buildings mentioned above, the new facilities on the island include a pier, where boats can dock. There is also a short road linking the pier with the reception and restaurant, and footpaths connect the huts. Finally, there is a designated swimming area for tourists off a beach on the western tip of the island.
Sample Answer
The maps illustrate a number of proposed changes that are to take place in the town of Hunderstone.
In general, while the area to the east of the railway will remain almost the same, the western side is going to undergo several significant changes, especially with regards to the transport infrastructure.
As can be seen in the first map, Hunderstone Town is currently divided into two main areas by a railway line, which runs from north to south and passes by a gas station. To the west of the railway, there is an air field which is connected to the main road (A1). A roundabout in the middle of this road connects the A1 road to the east of the town, and in particular, to the ring road around the town centre.
In the future, the airfield in the north west of Hunderstone Town is expected to be replaced by an industrial estate. A new railway line will also be constructed to provide further access to this area. In addition, a new, larger roundabout will be constructed midway along the road connecting the east and west of the town. A new road (A4) which will connect the A1 to the town centre will also be built in the south of the town.
Sample Answer
The pictures illustrate a number of important changes which took place in a town after the construction of a hydroelectric power dam.
From the maps, it is clear that the most noticeable change that occurred in the town was that of a huge lake. Additionally, the forest and farmlands had completely disappeared by 2010.
In 1990, there was an ancient structure and a forest with rare flora and fauna to the west of the river, and irrigated farmlands to the east. However, with the construction of a dam wall, those features disappeared beneath a large lake, which also became a fishing area in 2010.
Looking at the maps in more detail, while the mountains still existed, the villages in the far east were relocated further south of the mountains, and a large hotel was built in their place. Meanwhile, a hydroelectric power dam was constructed with a wide range of electricity pylons appearing nearby.
Sample Answer
The pictures illustrate changes which have taken place in a particular art gallery from 2005 to the present.
Overall, the layout of the art gallery has been significantly changed, particularly on the left-hand side of the building. A number of existing features have been renovated and converted, while a number of new facilities have been added to the building in general.
In 2005, there was a café and shop in the rear-left corner of the building. However, the café has been removed and the room is now strictly a gallery shop. Meanwhile, the three exhibition rooms on the right-hand side of the building remain unchanged, and a new lift has been installed next to exhibition room 3, making the stairway to the upper floor smaller.
The gallery office, which was situated between exhibition room 4 and the old café, has also been removed and the area is now occupied by three vending machines. Exhibition room 4 has now been divided into two different areas; a temporary exhibition room and a children’s play area. Meanwhile, the reception desk has been moved closer to the centre of the entrance hall, while a wheelchair ramp has been added to the front entrance.
Sample Answer
The maps show changes in the layout of a park between 1980 and the present. In general, the park is now more accessible and has several new facilities to serve different recreational demands of the public.
In 1980, there was one pathway running through the park from the west gate to the south gate. A number of trees were located in the north east, and flowers were planted along the south wall. There was also a pond with several benches around it situated on the eastern side of the park.
Between 1980 and now, the path was removed and replaced with a new path which leads to all four sides of the park, and essentially divides it into four different areas. In the south western corner, the pond and benches are still intact, but the flowers in that area have been replaced with bushes. A new picnic area with tables and a barbecue grill has been set up in the north eastern corner, while the southeastern corner is now a dedicated playing field.