IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 sometimes presents a map or plan — typically showing how a place has changed over time, or comparing two different locations. Maps are often seen as harder than charts by test-takers, but with the right vocabulary and structure, they follow a predictable and manageable pattern.
Types of Map/Plan Questions
| Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Change over time | "The maps show the town of Riverton in 1990 and the present day" |
| Two locations compared | "The plans show two different floors of a shopping centre" |
| Proposed changes | "The map shows the current layout of a park and proposed changes" |
The most common map task is change over time — showing how a place has developed, been built up, or changed.
Key Vocabulary for Maps
Describing Location
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| to the north/south/east/west of | directional relationship |
| adjacent to | next to, touching |
| opposite | facing directly |
| alongside | beside |
| in the centre/middle of | central location |
| in the northern/southern section | part of an area |
| on the outskirts of | outer edge |
| surrounding | all around |
Describing Changes
| Change | Vocabulary |
|---|---|
| Something new was built | has been constructed / was developed / was built / has been added |
| Something was removed | has been demolished / was knocked down / has been cleared / has disappeared |
| Something changed function | was converted into / has been replaced by / changed to |
| Something stayed the same | remains unchanged / has been retained / still stands / continues to occupy |
| Size increased | has been extended / was expanded / grew significantly |
| New area developed | has been developed / has been transformed into / was converted to |
| Road or infrastructure added | a new road was constructed / a bridge was added |
Structure for Map Tasks
Maps follow the same four-part structure as all Task 1 responses:
- Introduction: Paraphrase the prompt (what the maps show)
- Overview: Identify the most significant overall change(s) — without specific data
- Body 1: Main changes in one part of the area (e.g., town centre)
- Body 2: Main changes in another part (e.g., outskirts, residential areas)
Band 7+ Sample Response — Change Over Time
Question: The maps below show the town of Springville in 1970 and the present day.
(Description of maps for this exercise: In 1970 — a small town with a market, church, and farmland to the north; a river to the south with a bridge; residential housing along the main road. Present day — the farmland has been built over with a shopping centre; a new school has been added near the residential area; the market has been replaced by a car park; the river now has a restaurant alongside it; the bridge has been widened.)
Band 7+ Response:
The two maps illustrate how Springville transformed over approximately fifty years, from a predominantly rural settlement to a more commercially developed town.
Overall, the most striking change has been the significant expansion of built infrastructure in the northern section, where agricultural land has been replaced by commercial and educational facilities. The river area to the south has also been developed for leisure purposes.
In the northern part of the town, the farmland that dominated the area in 1970 has been entirely cleared to make way for a large shopping centre. A new secondary school has been constructed to the east of the existing residential area, reflecting the town's population growth. The weekly market that previously occupied a central position has been replaced by a car park, likely serving the shopping centre.
Along the southern riverbank, the most notable development is the addition of a waterfront restaurant adjacent to the original bridge. The bridge itself has been widened, suggesting increased traffic volumes. The church and the residential housing along the main road appear to have remained largely unchanged throughout the period.
(205 words)
Why it scores Band 7+:
- Clear overview identifies the most significant overall trends
- Information is organised by area (north and south) — logical structure
- Precise vocabulary: "cleared," "make way for," "replaced by," "widened," "reflecting"
- Active and passive voice are mixed naturally
- No opinion or speculation about causes
Common Mistakes in Map Tasks
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| No overview paragraph | Add 2 sentences identifying the biggest changes before the body paragraphs |
| Listing changes without location | Every change must include a directional reference (to the north, adjacent to, in the central area) |
| Describing what is currently there without saying what changed | Use "was replaced by," "has been converted to," "has been demolished" |
| Giving opinions or speculating about why changes occurred | Only describe, not explain |
| Too few words | Maps can be described in 170–200 words; aim for this range |
Useful Sentence Templates for Maps
Describing construction:
- A new [building/road/facility] was constructed to the [north/south] of the town.
- The area to the [east] has been developed significantly, with [what].
Describing demolition:
- The [market] that previously occupied [the central area] has been demolished/replaced by [a car park].
- The [farmland] has been entirely cleared to make way for [a shopping centre].
Describing no change:
- The [church] remains unchanged from 1970.
- The [residential street] continues to occupy the same position as in the original map.
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