IELTS WRITING TASK 1

MAPS 01
 Main Contents
1. Types of Map Questions
2. Writing the Introduction
3. Writing the Overview
4. Grammar and Vocabulary for
Describing Maps
5. Sample Task and Model Answer
 1. TYPES OF MAP QUESTIONS
Maps in Writing Task 1 often shows you the
development of an area and you have to
describe its main changes over time.
Generally, there are 2 types of maps in the
IELTS test
 Diachronic maps: 2 maps of the same
place but in different times (i.e. 1940, 2010)
 Synchronic maps (less common): 1 single
map and we have to describe two locations/
sites on them or even compare them

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 Diachronic maps

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 Synchronic maps

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 ESSAY STRUCTURE
Paragraph 1 - The Introduction
State what the map(s) show(s)
Paragraph 2 – The Overview
Write about the most noticeable differences
between the two maps/ over the time period
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,
6 depending on the question asked.)
 2. WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

Useful Structures
The maps show/compare/illustrate + the
changes/ growth/ developments which
took place in (name of the town) over
a period from … to …/between …and…)
The maps show/compares/illustrate +
how (name of the town) has changed/
transformed/ developed from … to..

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 3. WRITING THE
Choosing the information:
OVERVIEW
You need to figure out the general change of the
place.

1st sentence:
more shopping
and transport
facilities =>
become a much
more modern city
today
2nd sentence
(an interesting
change): new
tramline
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 3. WRITING THE OVERVIEW
1st sentence:

it is clear from the diagram

the most significant change in

Overall, /
the graph is that
In
…..
general, what stands out from the
2nd sentence: graph
Another / One interesting change is that....

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In general, the most significant change in the graph is that

Castellon has become a much more modern city, with far more

shopping and transport facilities. One interesting change is that

a new tram line has been built, to connect the university with the
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town center.
 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS

Verb Tense and Passive Voice

Maps comparing 2 periods of time in the

past (e.g. 1995) and now:
● Use the present perfect passive to
describe the changes in the present.
● Use the simple past passive to illustrate
features in the past.

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 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS

Verb Tense and Passive Voice

Maps comparing two periods of time

in the past (e.g. 1990 and 2005):
• Use the simple past passive to
describe the change in 2005.
• Use the past perfect passive to
illustrate the features in 1990.

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 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS
Describing Major Changes
 The town has become more/less residential in the year…
compared to ….
 Some of the changes are negligible but ……(a change)… is
dramatic over these years.
 (Place A) experienced a number of noticeable changes.
The greatest is that….
 The most noticeable difference between place A and B is …
X…
 The biggest change occurred to the north of (place A).
 …X…has experienced a transformation since more ….X… is
constructed in the area.
 (Place A) has undergone considerable changes in ….X….
and ….Y….
 The (place A) was a much greener residential area with a
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large number of trees and individual houses.
 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS

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 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS
Examples
 The offices were demolished and the surrounding area
was redeveloped with a new leisure center opening up.
 The shopping center was extended and the parking area
was enlarged to accommodate more cars.
 The tree were cut down and a new office block was
erected.
 A railway was constructed with the introduction of a
new train station.
 The industrial area was modernized and made bigger
with lots of new factories being built.
 The local government had the sports facilities renovated
and the small park was made into a children’s
playground.
15  The park was replaced with a new housing complex.
 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS
Vocabulary for Showing Location

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 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS

Examples
The trees to the north of the river were cut
down and a new office block was built.
A railway was constructed to the east of the
housing estate with the introduction of a new
train station.
The forest to the west of the park was cut down
and a new housing complex was constructed.
The industrial area to the south-west of the
station was expanded.

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 4. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY FOR
MAPS
Other Useful Vocabulary
Housing/Residential area: an area that has lots
of houses and some schools.
Industrial area: an area that has lots of factories
Commercial area: an area that has lots of stores
Skyscraper: very tall buildings
Warehouse: a building where things are kept until
they are sold.
Woodland: an area with lots of trees
Intersection/Junction: the point where several
streets meet.
Recreation: an activity that is exciting,
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stimulating or relaxing.
 5. SAMPLE ANALYSIS

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