Question: The two maps above show road access to a city hospital in 2007 and 2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Band 8+ Sample Answer:
(Intro & Overview) The two maps show the changes to transport infrastructure that took place between 2007 and 2010 in the vicinity of a city hospital. Overall, the differences in the two maps indicate that by 2010 the location had significantly developed to cater for new roads, parking and bus facilities.
(Detail 1) Looking at the earlier map from 2007, we can see that the hospital is essentially contained within a circular road know as Ring Road. Junctioning this road to the South is Hospital Road which is lined with six bus stops, three on each side. This runs south to meet City Road. To the east of Hospital Road is a car park which is shared by staff and the public.
(Detail 2) Turning our attention to the second map from 2010, we can see that by the time the changes take place, the hospital grounds have increased in size and developed significantly. The most striking feature is the construction of a new bus station to the west of hospital road, with the inevitable removal of the pre-existing bus stops. The original car park has, by 2010 been designated as staff only, and a new public car park has been constructed to the east of the hospital, on the outside of Ring Road. Finally it is important to note that by 2010 two new roundabouts have been built on Hospital Road, at the junctions with Ring Road and City Road. This has been done to cater for vehicles travelling to the bus station and the hospital. (250 words)
Words: Nick Kemp, former IELTS examiner.
Image: Cambridge