top of page

Changes in an American Town Between 1948 and 2010 - IELTS Task 1 Map

Updated: Sep 18

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.


The map below shows the changes in an American town between 1948 and 2010.


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


Write at least 150 words

Changes in an American Town Between 1948 and 2010 - IELTS Task 1 Map

Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Answer 1

The maps illustrate the transformation of an American town from 1948 to 2010, highlighting its shift from an industrial to a commercial centre. Overall, the town underwent significant redevelopment, with new infrastructure for transport, business, and entertainment. Notably, while many areas changed dramatically, the canal remained a consistent feature throughout this period.


In 1948, the town’s northwest was dominated by factories, but by 2010, these had been replaced by an airport, marking a transition from industry to transportation. In the central area, the garden and lake were replaced by a supermarket and commercial buildings, further emphasizing the town’s growing commercial focus. Meanwhile, the petrol station to the north and residential area in the southeast remained unchanged over the years, providing continuity in these parts of the town.


In contrast, the southwest saw a major shift with the church being replaced by a sports stadium, reflecting a new emphasis on recreation and community engagement. Similarly, in the northwest, the residential houses and local market were replaced by commercial buildings by 2010, further supporting the town’s commercial development. Throughout these changes, the canal running through the town remained untouched, acting as a constant geographical feature amidst the surrounding redevelopment.


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Answer 2

The cartographic illustrations provide a comparative snapshot of the substantial developments in an American town across the period stretching from 1948 to 2010.


The overview of the maps indicates the town's dynamic evolution, marked by the introduction of new civic facilities and the reconfiguration of its commercial and residential areas. Notably, the eastern part of the town underwent extensive redevelopment, replacing industrial facilities with modern establishments conducive to the needs of a growing urban population.


Delving into details, the northeastern section of the town transitioned from an industrial landscape to a hub of commerce and travel. Where once a lake and factories stood, the year 2010 shows the erection of an expansive supermarket, a suite of commercial edifices, and an airport, illustrating the strategic shift toward economic modernization and enhanced connectivity. These changes in an American town between 1948 and 2010 encapsulate the transition from a production-oriented to a service-driven economy.


In contrast, the southeast retained its residential essence but with notable transformations; a sports stadium supplanted a church, mirroring a cultural shift toward recreational and sports facilities. Despite these significant metamorphoses, the petrol station to the north and the homes beside the canal stood as constants, anchoring the town's evolving identity.


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score



Sample Answer 3

The juxtaposition of two time frames delineates the evolutionary trajectory of an American town from 1948 to 2010, revealing substantial developmental shifts.


At first glance, the overhaul of the town’s infrastructure is readily apparent, particularly in the substitution of industrial areas with commercial and recreational amenities. Most notably, the north-eastern quadrant, once an industrial bastion with factories, has been supplanted by an airport, signifying a pivot towards modern transportation and commerce. Adjacent to this new airport, where greenery once flourished, now stands a row of commercial buildings, reflecting a shift from manufacturing to service-based industries.


Furthermore, the town’s commercial footprint expanded significantly, as evidenced by a new supermarket supplanting the erstwhile local market and a cluster of commercial edifices emerging on what was once residential space in the south-west. Meanwhile, the erstwhile place of worship has given way to a sports stadium, showcasing a change in the town's cultural focus.


Despite these transformations, some elements of continuity anchor the town to its past. The preserved canal and the perennial verdure of the trees stand as testaments to the town’s commitment to maintaining natural elements amidst urban development. Additionally, the original petrol station and the residential houses in the south-east remain as enduring fixtures in the town’s landscape, echoing the past amidst the march of progress.



Sample Answer 4

The maps illustrate some changes in the American town from 1948 to 2010.  Overall, there were substantial modifications. These involved the construction of some new infrastructure to increase transportation and entertainment in town, and the transformation of the town from an Industrial to a commercial zone.


Looking at the northeast and southeast of the maps, the petrol station remained the same location between 1948 and 2010. In contrast, there were some factories in the northwest corner in 1948, these had been replaced by an airport in 2010. Similarly, the garden with a lake had also been demolished, and a supermarket, commercial buildings had been constructed there. To the southeast corner, there were no changes to the residential houses.


In the northwest, the residential houses and the local market that existed in 1948 were replaced by commercial buildings by 2010. Similarly, the church in the southwest corner was converted into a sports stadium, demonstrating a significant shift of the town’s focus toward recreation and community events. Despite these transformations, the canal running through the town remained unchanged throughout the period.



Sample Answer 5

The comparative maps illustrate the transformation of an American town over the span of six decades, from 1948 to 2010. In this examination, we will delve into the pronounced changes that have occurred.


An overview of the shifts reveals a town embracing modernity while retaining its core layout. The transformation of green spaces and industrial areas into commercial zones and transportation hubs is evident, signaling a shift towards commercialization and improved infrastructure.


Focusing on specifics, the northeastern sector witnessed a dramatic evolution. The bucolic lake and adjacent factories of 1948 gave way to the hustle and bustle of a sprawling supermarket, a cluster of commercial buildings, and the construction of an airport by 2010, indicative of significant economic development. This metamorphosis from manufacturing to service-based facilities highlights a reorientation in the town's economic focus.


Conversely, while the south-eastern quadrant maintained its residential character, it was not without alteration. A modern sports stadium emerged where a church once stood, reflecting a societal pivot towards leisure and communal activities. Yet amidst these transitions, some elements persisted; the petrol station in the north and the residential zone flanking the canal remained untouched, serving as historical bookmarks in the town's evolution.



Sample Answer 6

The transformation of an American town over the span of six decades, specifically between 1948 and 2010, is depicted through the provided cartographic illustrations.


Commencing with an overarching snapshot, the town's evolution is marked by significant infrastructural developments. Notable is the enduring presence of the residential area in the south-east and the unaltered canal, which remain staples amidst the metamorphosis. Furthermore, the conservation of the urban forestry adds a touch of perennial greenery to the landscape, maintaining the ecological aesthetic of the township.


Delving into particulars, the erstwhile local supermarket and church, once central to the town's community life in 1948, made way for a contemporary sports stadium, reflecting a cultural shift towards recreational amenities. The transformation is stark where commercial edifices now stand at the junction of main thoroughfares, replacing former residential dwellings. This shift underscores a trend towards commercialization, symbolizing economic growth.


Perhaps the most emblematic of the changes in an American town between 1948 and 2010 is the establishment of an airport, signalling the town's ascension to a hub of connectivity, where once factories hummed with industrial activity. This transition from manufacturing to service-oriented infrastructure epitomizes the broader economic and social changes over the latter half of the twentieth century into the twenty-first. The petrol station's steadfast location serves as a silent witness to these sweeping transformations, encapsulating the essence of change and constancy that characterizes the changes in an American town between 1948 and 2010.


Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner


Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score

Comments


bottom of page