AVTC7_Maps and Plans

MAPS AND PLANS

I. PRE-WRITING
1. Definition and Characteristics
- Maps are used in IELTS to describe the physical layout of a location in addition to showing
changes over time.
- They can be maps of a city, a university, a park, or an island. There might also be plans for a
shopping center, an office building, or a factory floor.
- The maps often include:
+ a key (a legend) that explains certain features and symbols on the maps,
+ the scale (a distance marker) of the maps (e.g. in kilometers)
+ a compass arrow to show direction (North/ South/ East/ West)
(Adapted from Rogers, B., & Kenny, N. (2016). The Complete Guide to Ielts: Students book: Band 5.5-7+. National Geographic
Learning, Cengage Learning.)

- An example of an IELTS Task 1 – maps and plans:

The two plans below show the City Library in 2004 and 2014.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

(Adapted from Rogers, B., & Kenny, N. (2016). The Complete Guide to Ielts: Students book: Band 5.5-7+. National
Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning.)

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2. General outline for a map/plan report

Outline of a map report
Explain in your own words what the map(s)/plan(s) show(s) by
paraphrasing the question in 1 sentence.
Introduction: Make sure that your introduction can answer these questions:
Information about the map 1. What do the maps show or represent?
2. What time period is reported?
3. What place is reported?

Overview:
Report the most general changes/ differences that have taken
General features
place when you first look at the given maps.

- Describe specific changes that have occurred in the first main

Body 1 area of the two maps during the period by comparing/ contrasting
Main features the maps.
OR Describe the first map before changes.

- Describe the other specific changes that have occurred in the

Body 2 remaining main areas of the two maps during the period by
Main features comparing/ contrasting the maps.
OR Describe the second map after changes.
*Notes:
- You do not have to describe every single detail in the body paragraphs. Focus on the
biggest or most important changes instead.
3. Language for Writing
3.1. Introduction
Type of chart Verb Noun phrase Time (optional)
The maps/ indicate how + Noun + changed/ developed  in 2010
diagrams show the changes to + Noun phrase  between 2010 and 2020
illustrate the transformation of + Noun phrase  from 2010 to 2020
exhibit the development of + Noun phrase  over a 10-year period
reveal the layout of [plan A] and [plan b]

Examples: The maps show how a village called Ryemouth has developed over a twenty-five
year period, starting from 1990.

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3.2. Overview
To write an overview for maps, you should look at ALL the changes/ differences and classify
them into the following groups:
 residential area
 industrial zone
 entertainment facilities
 tourism facilities
 transportation facilities
 green space
Generally, [noun phrase] + see / witness / experience + major changes / striking
transformation / remarkable development / significant modernization. Most noticeably, + [key
changes].
- It can be seen that + [noun phrase] + made many changes during this period, including [key
changes].
- Overall, there are great differences between the two maps, including [key differences].
Example: It can be seen that Ryemouth village made many changes during this period,
including the significant increase in the number of accommodations and the introduction of
sport facilities.
3.3. Body paragraphs (Details)
A. Language of directions

A - North B – Northeast C – East D - Southeast

E – South F – Southwest G – West H – Northwest

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* Note: There are 4 corners: South-Eastern corner/ South-Western corner/ North-Eastern

corner/ North-Western corner
B. Language of locations
opposite/ next to
in front of behind between
across from
at one end … to the North/ in the south-
at the other inside outside South/ East/ eastern
end West of corner

There + to be + noun 1 + position phrase + noun 2.

Noun 1 + to be + located/situated + position phrase + noun 2.
Noun 1 + stand/ lie + position phrase + noun 2.

* Note: We have 4 corners: south-eastern corner/ south-western corner/ north-eastern

corner/ north-western corner
Examples:
1. There was a fishing market to the south of the village in 1995.
2. A farmland was located to the northeast part of the village in 1995.
3. The main housing of the village lies in the north-western corner around a main road that runs
from the coastal road.
C. Verbs to describe changes
In maps reports, the verbs used to describe changes are often used in passive voice:
S + BE + V (past participle)

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Places on the map Verbs of changes Meaning Example

Buildings, roads, demolish, knock A number of houses
bridges and railways down, tear down were demolished so
that the supermarket
destroy could be built.
Forests and trees clear, cut down, The trees were
chop down, remove cleared to make way
for houses.
Buildings replace by, convert The factory was
into, relocate converted into
apartments.
Forests and trees replace by, plant More trees are
change planted next to the
library.
Leisure facilities open, set up, A skate park was set
develop up next to the
swimming pool.
Buildings, roads, extend, expand The car park was
bridges and railways expanded to
lines increase in size accommodate an
• Forests and trees extra 50 cars.
• Leisure facilities
• Buildings, roads, shrink, diminish The forest has been
bridges and railways seriously
decrease in size
lines diminished.
• Forests and trees
Buildings, roads, construct, develop, A new road was
bridges and railways establish build constructed next to
lines the town.
Buildings renovate, refurbish, upgrade The hostel has been
modernize completely
refurbished.

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Buildings, roads, Remain unchanged, No change The original car park

bridges and railways stayed intact, stay and residential areas
lines the same, no have remained
• Forests and trees change unchanged during
• Leisure facilities the period.

* Linking words and phrases:

- One of the most noticeable/ significant changes …
- Another noticeable/ significant change is …
- However / Meanwhile / While
- In addition / Similarly
- Finally, ...
- Regarding/ In terms of + N/ N phrase, …
Examples:
- One of the most noticeable changes is the renovation of the Watson Building and Founder’s
Building at the center of the university as they both increased in size.
- There used to be a car park in the northwest of the university in 1995. However, it has been
relocated to make way for the main reception.
- Regarding the changes in the southern region, more shops and restaurants were developed
near the night market.

D. Common structures used to describe the maps

a. While S + V + O, S1 + V1 + O1.
E.g: While the two entrances remained unchanged, the registration area was relocated to the
south to make way for a newly built refreshment area.

b. S + V + O, whereas S1 + V1 + O1.
E.g: The balcony on the right-hand side was equipped with a lounge area in 2010, whereas the
nearby exhibition area was expanded and moved to the left-hand side.
4. Analyze a sample report
Task 1. Read the writing task (IELTS PRACTICE TASK , SB - page 227) below and answer
the following questions.
The two plans below show the City Library in 2004 and 2014.

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Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make
comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
(Source: Rogers, B., & Kenny, N. (2016). The Complete Guide to Ielts: Students book: Band 5.5-7+. National Geographic
Learning, Cengage Learning.)

1. What are the plans about?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. What general changes do you see? What are they?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the differences between the two plans? What remained unchanged?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
4. What year do you see on these maps? What tenses should you use?
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Should you use verbs in the passive form or active form to describe the maps? Why?
____________________________________________________________________________
6. How would you organize your body paragraphs?
____________________________________________________________________________
Task 2. Look at the map of the City Library again. Write four sentences to describe the
location of the following places using Past Simple tense in Passive Voice form.
E.g.: The receptionist desk was still located in the center of the library map.
1. The General Collection area ___________________ north of the City Library.
2. The gift shop and art gallery ___________________ south-eastern corner.
3. A new Computer and Media room ___________________ south west corner.

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4. A new outdoor performance area ___________________ the Reference room and Academic
Journals.
Task 3. Read the sample report for the map in task 1. Complete the report with suitable
words or phrases in the box below.
relocated southwestern remained the same transformation located
witnessed constructed noticeable changes were diminished northern
make room for
The two maps demonstrate the (1) ___________ of the City Library between 2004 and 2014.
Overall, although the library's internal layout (2) ____________ significant changes, its overall
structure did not change.
One of the most (3) ___________ was the installation of a big computer and media room in the
building's (4) _________ corner. To make way for this, the gift shop and art gallery had been (5)
___________ to the South-Eastern corner, where they were integrated into a new café. This
opened cafe shop was connected to a new outdoor performance area, which was also newly (6)
___________.
In the central area of the library, while the main entrance and the front desk (7) ___________,
the Academic Journals section was added to the former Reference Room in 2014. Moreover,
the General Collection was still (8) ___________ in the whole (9) ___________ area of the
building. However, in 2014, shelves for fiction, non-fiction, children's, and magazines in this area
(10) ___________ in size to (11) ___________ a huge range of movies and video games area
for visitors.
5. Brainstorm ideas
Task 4. Read the Writing Task (IELTS Practice task, SB - page 223) below and answer the
questions.
The two maps show Tilden Airport and the surrounding area in 1985 and 2015.
Write a report for a university lecturer summarizing the information shown in the maps.

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(Source: Rogers, B., & Kenny, N. (2016). The Complete

Guide to Ielts: Students book: Band 5.5-7+. National Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning.)

1. What do the maps show?

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
2. What general changes do you see? What are they?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the differences between the two maps? What remained unchanged?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

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4. What year do you see on these maps? What tenses will you use?
____________________________________________________________________________
5. How would you organize your body paragraphs?
____________________________________________________________________________
Task 5. Look at the sentences that describe the maps. Complete the sentences
using words/ phrases from the box.
bus and light rail station constructed north-eastern south addition
demolished domestic terminal intact make way for
hotel and conference center
1. The __________ of a new runway named Runway Two located to the north of the airport was
one of the most significant changes at the airport in 2015.
2. The _______________ was built next to the Car Park to the south of the airport to serve
passengers in 2015.
3. A business park and a housing estate were _____________ in the __________ corner in 2015.
4. The factories on the __________ side of the street were also ____________ to ____________
airport support services as well as a hotel and conference center in 2015.
5. A new ___________ in the south-eastern corner was built to provide further accommodations
for travelers in 2015.
6. The original car park and _________ to the west of the airport stayed __________ while the
international park was expanded in 2015.
Task 6. Complete the outline for the maps.

Paragraph 1: _____________________________________________________
Introduction _____________________________________________________

Paragraph 2: _____________________________________________________
Overview _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paragraph 3: Body 1
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Paragraph 4: Body 2
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________