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IELTS Writing Task 1-Map

The document provides guidance on summarizing maps for IELTS Writing Task 1. It discusses describing maps in 3 paragraphs: 1) rephrasing the question, 2) giving an overview of differences between maps, and 3) and 4) providing details on specific changes over time or location. Key details include infrastructure improvements, residential and commercial development, and changes to transport routes. Good vocabulary and both past and present tenses should be used.

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Trang Luong
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1K views

IELTS Writing Task 1-Map

The document provides guidance on summarizing maps for IELTS Writing Task 1. It discusses describing maps in 3 paragraphs: 1) rephrasing the question, 2) giving an overview of differences between maps, and 3) and 4) providing details on specific changes over time or location. Key details include infrastructure improvements, residential and commercial development, and changes to transport routes. Good vocabulary and both past and present tenses should be used.

Uploaded by

Trang Luong
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IELTS Writing Task 1: describing maps

1. Analysing the model


Look at the map and read the sample. Answer the questions
 In what order did the author describe the information shown on the map?
 What information did he choose for paragraphs 3 and 4?
 What good vocabulary does the essay contain?

The map shows the growth of a village called Chorleywood between 1868 and 1994.
It is clear that the village grew as the transport infrastructure was improved. Four periods of development are
shown on the map, and each of the populated areas is near to the main roads, the railway or the motorway.
From 1868 to 1883, Chorleywood covered a small area next to one of the main roads. Chorleywood Park and
Golf Course is now located next to this original village area. The village grew along the main road to the south
between 1883 and 1922, and in 1909 a railway line was built crossing this area from west to east.
Chorleywood station is in this part of the village.
The expansion of Chorleywood continued to the east and west alongside the railway line until 1970. At that
time, a motorway was built to the east of the village, and from 1970 to 1994, further development of the village
took place around motorway intersections with the railway and one of the main roads.

2. HOW TO DESCRIBE

1
There are three main types of map question:

1. Describe one map in the present day.

2. Describe two maps- one in the present and one in the future.

3. Describe two maps- one in the past and one in the present.

The first kind is very rare, as it only requires you to use the present simple and it is impossible for any
comparisons to be made.

The second kind does come up occasionally and would require you to use present and future tenses. This kind
of question is normally about the future development of a town or city. It requires the same vocabulary as the
other two.

The third is the most common and will be the main focus of this post.

You will normally be shown two maps, as above and asked to select and report the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant. You will obviously be using both present and past tenses to describe the maps
and how the town has developed.

Also, as this is a man-made process we will use the passive.

Source: Cambridge English Practice Papers.

Structure
To describe two maps I advise my students to follow a four paragraph structure.

Paragraph 1- Paraphrase Sentence

2
Paraphrase question using synonyms.

Paragraph 2- Overview

Make two general statements about the map. You should describe the maps generally and write about the
most noticeable differences between the two maps. You could ask yourself the following questions to identify
general changes. Is the map more or less residential? Is there more or less countryside? Are there more or
less trees? Were the changes dramatic or negligible? Were there any major improvements in infrastructure?
How have the buildings and leisure facilities changed?

Paragraph 3- Main Body 1

Three to four sentences about specific changes that have occurred.

Paragraph 4- Main Body 2

Further three to four sentences about specific changes that have occurred.

You can group information together in paragraph 3 and 4 by time or location, depending on the question
asked.

3. USEFUL LANGUAGE

3
4
5
4. PRACTICE

6
7

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