IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Lesson 11 Maps

Hello! Welcome to lesson 11 in our IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 lesson series. In this lesson, we are going to look at how to analyze and write about maps.

Maps occasionally appear in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, and when they do you will usually see two maps. Often one map is in the past while the other is in the present; sometimes both are in the past. You might also get maps showing proposals for the future, such as a redevelopment scheme. Therefore, it is important to use the proper tenses to describe the changes.

Since there are two maps, the essay structure for this question is simple:

1. Introduction: Paraphrase the question
2. Overview: Describe what you consider to be the major changes over time
3. Body paragraph 1: Describe the first map in detail
4. Body paragraph 2: Describe the second map in detail

Before we look at an example question, let’s learn some useful phrases for describing changes over time.

• over the 10-year period
• from 1990 to 2010
• in the period from 1990 onward
• over the years
• in the last 20 years
• in the years after 1980

When describing change, the present perfect and the present perfect passive are often used. Here are some examples:

• Over the 20-year period the island has witnessed big changes.
• From 1980 to 2000 a new park was constructed where a school once stood.
• A new shopping center has been built over the years.
• In the period from 1990 onward, the city centre has seen dramatic changes.
• In the years after 1990 the island changed considerably.
• The green spaces have been profoundly affected over the two decades and were replaced by housing.

Next, let’s look at how to describe a location.

When describing the location of something on a map, use phrases like:

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  to the north of / north of

  
  Example sentences:

  The marsh is north of the hotel = The marsh is to the north of the hotel.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  to the south of / south of

  
  Example sentences:

  The hotel is to the south of the marsh = The hotel is south of the marsh.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  to the east of / east of

  
  Example sentences:

  The forest to the east of the river was completely cut down. = The forest east of the river was completely cut down.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  to the west of / west of

  
  Example sentences:

  The factory to the west of the school was flattened and relocated. = The factory west of the school was flattened and relocated.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  north east of / to the north east of

  north west of / to the north west of

  south east of / to the south east of

  south west of / to the south west of

  
  Example sentences:

  The sand dunes are north east of the tea room.

  The industrial area to the south west of the station was expanded.

  The shopping centre is relocated to the south west of the town, which has a population of 50,000.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  in the west

  in the east

  in the north

  in the south

  
  Example sentences:

  Most of the town’s buildings are concentrated in the north.

  There were many shops in the east.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  on the south side of

  on the north side of

  on the east side of

  on the west side of

  
  Example sentences:

  Shops on the south side of the current main road will be maintained in the future.

  The trees on the east side of the river were cut down and a new office block was built.

  The shops along the north side of the new pedestrian street will be demolished to make way for a bus station.

• Phrases and vocabulary:

  Northern / Southern / Eastern / Western

  Southeast / Northeast / Southwest / Northwest

  
  Example sentences:

  The house faces northwest.

  The northern area is largely countryside, while the southern area is filled with houses.

  There is a school at the end of the fork road in the southwest corner and a park in the southeast area.

  Most factories are located on the northeast side of the town.

Now, let’s look at two map questions and model essays.

Model Essay

Important functional words are highlighted in red

Useful vocabulary and phrases are highlighted in green

Synonyms and topic vocabulary are highlighted in blue

Introduction

The maps illustrate significant changes in the seaside town of Seaville over a thirty-year period, from 1980 to 2010.

Overview

Overall, the village developed substantially from a holiday settlement to a permanent town over the 30-year period. Similarly, infrastructure and amenities increased, along with the town’s capacity to provide for tourists.

Body paragraph 1

In 1980, Seaville was tiny, attracting only a few tourists, who were accommodated in cottages or a small hotel. In contrast, East Bank was unspoilt. To the east of the cottages was a marsh, and there was woodland to the north. Regarding recreation, besides the beach, the town only offered a tea room.

Body paragraph 2

However, the village had grown dramatically by 2010. Retirement villages had been built to the west of the main road. The marsh had been drained and the cottages demolished in order to construct houses. To cater for tourists, both a new high-rise hotel and holiday cottages on East Bank had been constructed. The woodlands had been cleared and supplanted by a golf course. Similarly, a boat club had been built on the west bank of the river. New infrastructure was created to access East Bank. On the other hand, the town had preserved the original hotel.

Okay! Let’s try another practice. This time, one of the maps represents future changes.

Model Essay

Important functional words are highlighted in red

Useful vocabulary and phrases are highlighted in green

Synonyms and topic vocabulary are highlighted in blue

Introduction

The diagrams illustrate some proposed changes to the central area of the town of Islip.

Overview

Overall, the principal change to the town will be the construction of a ring road around the centre. Various other developments with regard to shops and housing will accompany the building of this road.

Body paragraph 1

As the first map reveals, Islip town centre is currently relatively small. There is a main road running from west to east with shops on both sides. The northern area is mainly countryside, while the southern area contains houses with a school at the end of the fork road in the southwest corner and a park in the southeast area.

Body paragraph 2

In the future, the main road is expected to transform into a dual carriageway forming a ring road around the new town centre. The shops along the north side of the new pedestrian street will be demolished to make way for a bus station, shopping centre, car parks, and a new housing area. The shops along the south side of the street will remain, although the park is likely to be reduced in size to allow for additional housing within the ring road.