IELTS Writing Task 1: Describing Maps
Map questions appear in roughly 10-15% of IELTS Academic Writing tests. They typically show how a place has changed over time or present two alternative plans for development. Many candidates find maps challenging because the vocabulary and approach differ significantly from graph-based questions.
This guide explains exactly how map questions work, provides the specific vocabulary you need, and includes two full sample answers to help you prepare confidently.
How Map Questions Differ from Other Task 1 Types
- Data is numerical (percentages, amounts)
- You describe trends using numbers
- Vocabulary focuses on increase/decrease
- Comparisons are quantitative
- Data is visual and spatial
- You describe physical changes to a place
- Vocabulary focuses on construction, demolition, relocation
- Comparisons are about before vs. after
Structure for Map Descriptions
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paraphrase the question. State what the maps show, including the place name, the time periods or plan types, and the general subject (e.g., development, redevelopment, proposed changes).
Example: "The two maps illustrate the changes that took place in the town of Greenfield between 1990 and 2020."
Paragraph 2: Overview
Summarise the most significant overall changes. What is the biggest transformation? Has the area become more developed, more residential, more commercial? Has a key feature been added or removed?
Example: "Overall, the town underwent significant development over the thirty-year period, with agricultural land being replaced by residential housing and commercial facilities."
Paragraph 3: Body 1 — Major Changes
Describe the most significant changes in detail. Use compass directions and prepositions to locate features. Describe what was removed, added, relocated or expanded.
Paragraph 4: Body 2 — Remaining Changes
Cover the remaining changes and any features that stayed the same. Mentioning unchanged features shows you have analysed the maps thoroughly.
Vocabulary for Describing Changes
Map descriptions rely heavily on the passive voice because you are describing what happened to a place, not who did it.
Construction and Development
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| was built / was constructed | A new shopping centre was built to the east of the park. |
| was developed | The farmland was developed into a residential area. |
| was established / was set up | A new school was established on the southern edge of the town. |
| was erected | A multi-storey car park was erected adjacent to the station. |
| was added | A pedestrian bridge was added across the river. |
Removal and Replacement
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| was demolished / was knocked down | The old factory was demolished to make way for apartments. |
| was removed / was cleared | The woodland area was cleared for new housing. |
| was replaced by / was converted into | The car park was replaced by a garden. / The warehouse was converted into a museum. |
| gave way to | The playing fields gave way to a commercial complex. |
| made way for | Several houses were demolished to make way for a bypass road. |
Relocation and Expansion
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| was relocated to / was moved to | The bus station was relocated to the north of the town centre. |
| was extended / was expanded | The hospital was extended to include a new wing. |
| was widened | The main road was widened to accommodate more traffic. |
| was reduced in size | The park was reduced in size to allow for a new car park. |
No Change
| Expression | Example |
|---|---|
| remained unchanged / stayed the same | The river and bridge remained unchanged over the period. |
| was retained / was preserved | The historic church was retained in its original location. |
| was still present / continued to occupy | The park was still present in 2020, though reduced in area. |
Prepositions of Location
You cannot describe a map without prepositions. These are essential for indicating where features are located.
- to the north / south / east / west of
- in the north-east corner
- on the eastern side
- in the southern part of the town
- adjacent to / next to
- near / close to / in the vicinity of
- opposite / facing
- alongside
- surrounding / on the outskirts of
- between X and Y
- at the centre / in the middle of
- on the edge of / on the border of
- behind / in front of
- across from
Sample Answer 1: Town Development
The two maps below show the village of Ryeford in 1995 and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Map description: In 1995, Ryeford had a village centre with a church, post office and small shops along a main road running east-west. To the north were open farmlands. To the south was a river with a narrow bridge. A primary school sat to the west. By 2020, the farmland to the north had been replaced by a housing estate and a supermarket. The post office had been demolished and replaced by a bank. A new dual carriageway bypass ran along the northern edge. The bridge had been widened. A sports centre had been built to the east. The church and primary school remained unchanged.
The two maps compare the village of Ryeford as it was in 1995 with its layout in 2020, showing the physical changes that occurred over this 25-year period.
Overall, Ryeford was transformed from a small rural village into a much more developed settlement. The most striking changes took place to the north, where farmland was replaced by housing and commercial developments, while several features in the village centre were also altered.
The most significant development was in the northern part of the village. The open farmland that had occupied this area in 1995 was entirely cleared to make way for a large housing estate and a supermarket. In addition, a new dual carriageway bypass was constructed along the northern boundary, presumably to manage the increased traffic. To the east, a sports centre was built on what appears to have been open land.
In the village centre, the post office was demolished and replaced by a bank. The bridge spanning the river to the south was widened, suggesting greater traffic flow. However, not all features changed — both the church in the centre and the primary school to the west of the village remained in their original positions and appeared unchanged in the 2020 map.
Word count: 196 words
Sample Answer 2: Island Resort Development
The two maps below show an island before and after the construction of tourist facilities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Map description: Before development, the island was roughly oval-shaped with a beach on the western coast, dense trees covering the centre and east, and no structures. After development, a reception building was placed in the centre. A restaurant was built to the north of reception. Accommodation huts were arranged in two clusters — one to the west near the beach, one to the east. A footpath connected all facilities in a loop. A vehicle track led from the pier on the southern coast to the reception. The pier and a small dock were built on the south shore. Some trees remained in the east, but the central trees were cleared. The beach was unchanged.
The two maps depict an island before and after it was developed for tourism, showing the construction of various tourist amenities.
Overall, the island was transformed from an uninhabited, tree-covered area into a fully equipped tourist resort, complete with accommodation, dining facilities and transport infrastructure. Despite the extensive development, the western beach and some eastern vegetation were preserved.
Prior to development, the island had no man-made structures whatsoever. It featured dense tree coverage across the central and eastern areas, with a natural sandy beach running along the western coast. Following development, a reception building was constructed at the centre of the island, and a restaurant was built just to the north of it. Two clusters of accommodation huts were established — one near the western beach and another in the eastern part of the island.
A network of footpaths was laid to connect all the facilities in a loop, allowing guests to walk between the accommodation, restaurant and reception areas. On the southern shore, a pier and dock were built, with a vehicle track providing access from the dock to the reception. While the central trees were cleared to accommodate the new buildings, some woodland in the eastern section was retained, and the beach on the western side remained in its natural state.
Word count: 201 words