APIEWriting: Neighbourhoods and local history
Neighbourhoods and local history
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
How to use this lesson
For Teachers:
Manage the 35-minute pacing across the three steps and check learner progress through the interactive tasks.
Review the automated writing feedback after learners submit their district reports.
For Learners:
Work through the warm-up exercises on training data first to sharpen your vocabulary.
Next, study the two grid maps, write your summary of at least 120 words, and compare it with the model.
Training for a Swimming Race
Warm up with these quick practice tasks on describing numbers and performance.
Word Forms
Choose the correct form of the word to complete each sentence.
1. Her lap times showed a steady _____ over four weeks of training.
2. The swimmer's heart rate was _____ rapidly during the sprint intervals.
3. He practiced _____ every morning to build endurance.
4. There was a _____ drop in his recorded fatigue levels after two rest days.
5. The athlete's average split times have _____ considerably since June.
Collocations for Describing Data
Select the single word that pairs naturally in each sentence.
6. His daily practice distance _____ a peak of 8,000 metres in week three.
7. Her sprint speed _____ stable throughout the afternoon session.
8. His stroke count _____ significantly after he corrected his kick technique.
9. The coach noticed a _____ difference between his morning and evening 200m times.
10. His weekly pool hours _____ off at fifteen hours as the race approached.
Common Phrases for Describing Figures
Fill in the blanks using phrases from the word bank below.
11. The swimmer raised his total distance to 40 kilometres [ ... ] four weeks.
12. His stroke rate averaged 34 strokes per minute, [ ... ] 38 in the earlier heats.
13. His weekly training volume stood [ ... ] 45 kilometres during the hardest training cycle.
14. The swimmer's recovery time [ ... ] ninety seconds after he improved his breathing pattern.
15. His baseline speed [ ... ] across all four 100-metre test swims.
Paraphrase
Choose the sentence that says the same thing in different words.
Original Sentence:
"The swimmer did 30 laps each morning, but this number dropped to 15 laps in the evening."
Original Sentence:
"Her 100m freestyle time improved by two seconds between January and March."
Original Sentence:
"Weekly training hours were at their highest in week five at 18 hours."
Harbour District Map Transformation
Study the two maps carefully and write your factual summary.
Writing Task 1 Prompt
"Two maps of a harbour district are shown: one for 1995 and one for 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant."
Write at least 120 words.
Grid: 3 rows × 4 columns (read left to right)
Grid: 3 rows × 4 columns (read left to right)
📋 General Checklist for Map Reports
Evaluated automatically against: Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy.
____ (Write your full Task 1 summary here...)Model Report & Why This Works
Read this complete 126-word report to see how all the pieces fit together.
The two maps illustrate the transformation of a harbour district between 1995 and 2025.
Overall, the area changed from an industrial district into a residential and recreational zone, while the central houses and market square remained unchanged.
In the north-western corner, two warehouses gave way to residential flats. To the south, two factories were demolished and the site was converted into a museum. Meanwhile, the column of houses alongside the market and central square remained completely untouched.
On the eastern side, the car park in the south was replaced by a park. Further north, part of the harbour saw the development of cafes, while the remaining water area stayed intact. By contrast, all industrial facilities disappeared entirely over the 30-year period.
Why This Works
1. "remained unchanged"
Clearly highlights parts of the district that did not alter, saving time and keeping facts exact.
2. "In the north-western corner"
Directs the reader's eye immediately to an exact place on the map using clear compass points.
3. "gave way to"
A smooth and natural way to say that an older structure was replaced by a brand new one.
4. "was converted into"
Explains that the ground or facility was repurposed for a completely different function.
5. "saw the development of"
Connects the area to new amenities without repeating basic phrases like "they built".
6. "By contrast"
Links opposing facts together cleanly and helps point out a striking overall difference.
7. "over the 30-year period"
Binds the report together by summarising the exact stretch of time between 1995 and 2025.
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