How to Describe Maps in IELTS Writing Task 1
Sneha from Thane described the 2005 map, then the 2025 map, in two separate paragraphs. She did not say what had changed.
When a map task shows the same place at two dates, describe what was built, removed, extended or replaced, and where. Match the tense to each date, use clear location language, and group the changes by area or type.
Do maps appear in IELTS Academic Task 1?
The test-format page on the IELTS website names graphs, charts, tables and diagrams of an object, device, process or event. It does not use the word “map”.
Two other sources do mention maps. The IELTS sample-tasks document describes Task 1 as relating to the content of a visual input, and lists a map among the examples. IDP IELTS also includes maps in its guide to Task 1 question types.
Neither source says how many tasks use maps, so prepare for them without guessing.
What goes into a map overview?
Summarise the overall change, not the individual buildings. Ask whether the area became more built up, more residential or more commercial, and say so in one or two sentences. A clear overview is part of the Band 7 Task Achievement descriptor, as our post on the Task 1 overview explains.
IDP IELTS describes map tasks with two past dates, with a past map and a current map, or with a current map and a future plan. Choose the tense for each date, as our post on tenses in Task 1 shows.
Which language describes changes?
If the map shows a compass, use compass directions such as “in the north-west” and “to the east of”. They are clearer than “on the top left”. For help with “in”, “on” and “at”, see our prepositions lesson.
| Change | Useful language |
|---|---|
| Addition | built, constructed, added |
| Removal | demolished, knocked down, cleared, removed |
| Replacement | replaced by, gave way to, made way for |
| Expansion | extended, enlarged, expanded, widened |
| Conversion | converted into, transformed into, redeveloped as |
| Relocation | relocated to, moved to |
Change verbs usually suit the passive, because the maps do not show who made the changes. Our active and passive voice lesson shows the forms.
Incorrect: “In 2005 there was a school in the north-east, and in 2025 there was a larger school with a sports centre.”
Correct: The school in the north-east was expanded, and a new sports complex was added.
Practice with invented maps
Practice task (written for this post)
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The maps below show the centre of Town A in 2005 and 2025.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Invented data for practice (what each map shows):
| Location | 2005 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| North-west | Woodland and open fields | Housing development with 200 homes |
| North-east | Small local school | Expanded school with new sports complex |
| Centre | Open-air market | Enclosed pedestrian shopping mall |
| South-west | Ground-level car park | Multi-storey car park and bus station |
| South-east | Farmland | Public park and community centre |
Model answer (illustrative Band 7)
The two maps compare the centre of Town A in 2005 and 2025.
Overall, the town centre became more built up. Woodland, fields and farmland gave way to housing, a park and a community centre, while the market and the car park were redeveloped.
In the north-west, the woodland and open fields were replaced by a housing development of 200 homes. To the east of this area, in the north-east, the small local school was expanded, and a new sports complex was added. The north of the area therefore gained both homes and sports facilities.
In the centre, the open-air market was replaced by an enclosed pedestrian shopping mall. In the south-west, the ground-level car park was replaced by a multi-storey car park and a bus station, so the site had two facilities in 2025 where it had one in 2005. In the south-east, the farmland was converted into a public park and a community centre. Altogether, all five areas shown on the maps were altered.
Why it works:
- Task Achievement: the overview states the overall change without detail, and each of the five locations is covered with no reasons added.
- Coherence and Cohesion: paragraph three covers the north, and paragraph four covers the centre and the south.
- Lexical Resource: “gave way to”, “replaced by”, “expanded” and “converted into” vary the verbs of change.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: past passives such as “were replaced” and “was converted” are used consistently.
Tip
Before you write, list the changes by area in your notes, with one change verb beside each.
Key Takeaways
- Describe the changes between the maps, not each map on its own.
- Say what was built, removed, extended or replaced, and where.
- Give the overall change in the overview, without detail.
- Group the changes by area or type, and match the tense to each date.
The bottom line: Treat the two maps as one place at two dates, and write about what happened to it in between.