Welcome back to the IELTS Writing section on englishlanguagestudies.com! Have you ever looked at an IELTS prompt and seen two maps side-by-side? Map questions are incredibly common in Academic Writing Task 1. Typically, you will be shown a map of a town or island in the past, and a second map showing how it looks today (or how it is planned to look in the future).
To score a Band 7.0 or higher on a map question, you must demonstrate mastery of two things:
- Spatial Vocabulary: You must be able to accurately describe where things are using compass directions (north, south-east) and prepositions of place (adjacent to, situated alongside).
- The Passive Voice for Change: Towns do not build themselves! You must use the passive voice to describe development (e.g., The old houses were demolished and replaced by a shopping mall.).
In this guide, we will break down the perfect structure for describing maps, provide a “before and after” practice prompt, and reveal a flawless Band 9 sample answer. Let’s get writing!
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1
Learn how to describe spatial changes, analyze the map data below, and write your own 150-word response before checking the Band 9 sample.
1. The Practice Prompt
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The maps below show the center of a small town called Islip as it was in 2010, and as it is today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
[Optional: Insert Map Image Here]
Or use the data description below to practice!
Islip in 2010:
• A main road runs from east to west straight through the center of town.
• North of the road: A large area of open countryside (west) and a small school (east).
• South of the road: A public park (west), a row of shops (center), and residential housing (east).
Islip Today:
• The main road now features a large roundabout in the center.
• North of the road: The countryside was demolished. A bus station and a shopping center were built in its place. The school was expanded with new buildings.
• South of the road: The park was reduced in size. The row of shops remained unchanged. The residential housing was demolished and replaced by high-rise apartment blocks.
2. The Perfect 4-Paragraph Map Structure
To score highly on a map question, you must organize your description geographically. Follow this layout:
Paragraph 1: The Introduction
Write one sentence that paraphrases the prompt. (e.g., The provided maps illustrate the developmental changes that have occurred in the town center of Islip from 2010 to the present day.)
Paragraph 2: The Overview
Look at the “big picture.” What is the overall theme of the changes? For this map, the town has become significantly more urbanized and commercialized, with a loss of green space. State this clearly.
Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph A (The North Side)
Group your details by location. Use this paragraph to describe everything that happened north of the main road. Use the passive voice (e.g., the countryside was replaced by…).
Paragraph 4: Body Paragraph B (The South Side & Center)
Use the final paragraph to describe the changes to the south side and the central road. Make sure to point out what changed AND what stayed the same (like the row of shops).
3. Check Your Work
Set a timer for 20 minutes and write your response. Once you are finished, open the accordion below to read a Band 9 sample answer and analyze its use of directional vocabulary.
🏆 Click Here to Reveal the Band 9 Sample Answer
Sample Response:
The provided maps illustrate the developmental changes that have occurred in the town center of Islip from 2010 to the present day.
Overall, it is evident that Islip has undergone significant modernization. The town has transformed from a largely rural and residential area into a highly developed commercial and transport hub, resulting in a noticeable reduction of natural green spaces.
Looking at the area to the north of the main road, the most striking change is the complete disappearance of the open countryside. This vast green space was cleared to make way for a modern bus station and a large shopping center. To the east of these new commercial facilities, the pre-existing school has remained in its original location, but it has been significantly expanded with the construction of new buildings. To accommodate the increased traffic, a large roundabout has been constructed on the main road, directly connecting the north and south sides of the town.
South of the main road, further urbanization is visible. The original housing estate located in the south-east corner was entirely demolished and replaced by high-rise apartment blocks. Meanwhile, the row of shops situated in the center has remained entirely untouched. Finally, the large public park situated in the south-west has been noticeably reduced in size to accommodate the newly built roundabout and wider roads.
(223 words)
How did your response compare? Take a close look at the vocabulary used in the sample answer. Words and phrases like “completely cleared to make way for,” “has remained in its original location,” and “was entirely demolished and replaced by” are exactly what examiners look for when grading your Lexical Resource score for a map.
Remember, when dealing with maps, the easiest way to organize your essay is by grouping changes geographically. By dedicating one paragraph to the “North” and one paragraph to the “South,” your essay becomes incredibly easy for the examiner to read and follow, securing a high score for Coherence and Cohesion!
Let us know in the comments: Which Task 1 vocabulary do you find trickier to master—the “trend” vocabulary of line graphs, or the “directional” vocabulary of maps?
Check out more IELTS Academic Writing Task 1