IELTS Task 1 Essay: Map of a Museum in 1990 and 2010

The diagrams show a museum and its surroundings in 1990 and 2010.

The map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010.
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased the
square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the surrounding
area to allow for greater access and leisure.

Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various exhibition
spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. By 2010, the only modification was that
the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent exhibition room.

Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the
right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. The paths and roads as well as the garden above
the car park were unchanged. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left corner
across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

Analysis
1. The map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010. 2.
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased the
square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the surrounding
area to allow for greater access and leisure.

1. Paraphrase what the table shows.

2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.

1. Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various
exhibition spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. 2. By 2010, the only
modification was that the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent
exhibition room.

1. Begin writing about the data for the first categories.

2. Make sure you compare as much as possible.

1. Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the
right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. 2. The paths and roads as well as the garden
above the car park were unchanged. 3. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left
corner across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

1. Write about the final, other parts of the graph - include everything!
2. Compare the categories.
3. Add in everything, even what has not changed.

Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your
memory:

The map details renovations to a museum and the surrounding grounds from 1990 to 2010.
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that the museum itself decreased
the square footage for exhibitions and outside there were significant alterations to the
surrounding area to allow for greater access and leisure.
Internally, the museum in 1990 contained a store room in the top left corner, various
exhibition spaces on all sides, and a small shop in the bottom right. By 2010, the only
modification was that the shop was extended towards the left at the expense of the adjacent
exhibition room.

Outside the main structure, the largest single change was the expansion of the car park on the
right side which subsumed a garden beneath it. The paths and roads as well as the garden
above the car park were unchanged. The final difference was the cottage in the bottom left
corner across from the museum was renovated to become a cafe.

Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

details shows

renovations changes

surrounding grounds area around it

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that in general

square footage how large it is inside

exhibitions places to display art

outside not inside

significant alterations big changes

surrounding area places around it

allow for give the possibility of

greater access more ability to get there

leisure relaxation

internally inside

contained what is inside

store room place to keep things

various exhibition spaces different art rooms

all sides all around it

small shop little store

modification change

extended towards lengthened in the direction of

at the expense of over

main structure big building

largest single change biggest one alteration

expansion making bigger

subsumed combined into, taken over

garden place for plants and trees

beneath under

paths roads

roads streets

as well as and

unchanged the same

final difference last alteration

across from on the other side of

renovated changed

cafe coffee shop

Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

ˈdiːteɪlz
ˌrɛnəʊˈveɪʃənz
səˈraʊndɪŋ graʊndz
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
skweə ˈfʊtɪʤ
ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃənz
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz
səˈraʊndɪŋ ˈeərɪə
əˈlaʊ fɔː
ˈgreɪtər ˈæksɛs
ˈlɛʒə
ɪnˈtɜːnəli
kənˈteɪnd
stɔː ruːm
ˈveərɪəs ˌɛksɪˈbɪʃən ˈspeɪsɪz
ɔːl saɪdz
smɔːl ʃɒp
ˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
ɪksˈtɛndɪd təˈwɔːdz
æt ði ɪksˈpɛns ɒv
meɪn ˈstrʌkʧə
ˈlɑːʤɪst ˈsɪŋgl ʧeɪnʤ
ɪksˈpænʃən
səbˈsjuːmd
ˈgɑːdn
bɪˈniːθ
pɑːðz
rəʊdz
æz wɛl æz
ʌnˈʧeɪnʤd
ˈfaɪnl ˈdɪfrəns
əˈkrɒs frɒm
ˈrɛnəʊveɪtɪd
ˈkæfeɪ
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The map d__________s r________________s to a museum and the s_________________s

from 1990 to 2010. L__________________________________________________t the
museum itself decreased the s_____________e for e_____________s and o_______e there were
s_____________________s to the s________________a to a_______r g______________s and
l_________e.

I__________y, the museum in 1990 c________d a s________m in the top left corner,
v___________________s on a_____________s, and a s_________p in the bottom right. By
2010, the only m__________n was that the shop was e______________s the left
a__________________f the adjacent exhibition room.

Outside the m_________________e, the l_________________________e was the

e__________n of the car park on the right side which s___________d a g________________h
it. The p______s and r______s a__________s the garden above the car park were
u_________d. The f_________________e was the cottage in the bottom left corner
a_____________m the museum was r____________d to become a c___e.

Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheArtInstituteofChicago

Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Museums

1. Have you ever been to a museum?

2. What kind of art is in museums in your country?
3. Did you parents take you to museums as a child?
4. Are museums common in your country?

Writing Practice
Practice with the related chart below and then check with my sample answer: