Different Kinds of Map Question

There are three main types of map questions:

1. Describe one map in the present day.

2. Describe two maps- one in the present and one in the future.

3. Describe two maps- one in the past and one in the presen

4. The first kind is very rare, as it only requires you to use the present simple, and no
comparisons can be made.
5. The second kind occasionally comes up and requires you to use present and future
tenses. This kind of question is normally about the future development of a town or city.
It requires the same vocabulary as the other two.
6. The third is the most common and will be the main focus of this post.
7. You will normally be shown two maps, as above and asked to select and report the main
features and make comparisons where relevant. You will obviously use both present and
past tenses to describe the maps and how the town has developed.
8. Also, as this is a man-made process, we will use the passive.
Structure
Paragraph 1- Paraphrase Sentence

Paraphrase question using synonyms.

Paragraph 2- Overview

Make two general statements about the map. You should describe the maps generally and write
about the most noticeable differences between the two maps. You could ask yourself the
following questions to identify general changes. Is the map more or less residential? Is there
more or less countryside? Are there more or fewer trees? Were the changes dramatic or
negligible? Were there any major infrastructure improvements? How have the buildings and
leisure facilities changed?

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 in paragraphs 3 and 4 by time or location, depending on the question
asked.

Look at the sample answer below to see how I have used this structure.

How to Describe Specific Changes

The ability to describe change is crucial to answering these questions. The various buildings and
features will normally be labelled for you. You need to work on how to write about how they
have changed from the past up until the present day.

Tip: You may be asked to describe your hometown in the speaking test. The vocabulary and
grammar in this post should come in very useful.

Below I will list various buildings, features, and verbs we could use to describe their change.

Buildings– demolished, knocked down, flattened, replaced, renovated, built, constructed,

reconstructed, developed, extended, expanded, relocated, converted and modernized.

Examples:
The government demolished the industrial estate and developed a sports ground.

They removed the shops and replaced them with a skyscraper.

A port was constructed at the edge of the river.

The factory in the city centre was demolished and relocated to the city’s north.

The old warehouses were replaced with new hotels.

The factory was converted into apartments.

Trees and Forests- cleared, cut down, chopped down, removed, planted.

Examples:

The forest was cut down and replaced with a shopping centre.

The trees were cleared to make way for houses.

Roads, bridges and railways lines- constructed, built, extended, expanded and removed.

The main road was extended, and a new bridge was built over the river.

Leisure facilities- opened, set up, developed.

Examples:

A skate park was set up next to the swimming pool.

A park was developed beside the forest.

How to Describe General Changes

As this is an IELTS writing task 1 question, we must write an overview, where we generally talk
about the main changes between the two maps.

Below are some examples of general statements we could use to describe change in towns and
cities.

1. Over the period, the area witnessed dramatic changes.

 2. From 1995 to 2005, the city centre saw spectacular developments.

3. The village changed considerably over the period.

4. During the 10-year period, the industrial area was totally transformed.

5. Over the past 20 years, the residential area was totally reconstructed.

6. Over the period, the old docks were totally redeveloped.

7. Between 1995 and 2005, the old houses were rebuilt.

8. The central business district was completely modernised during the period.

Pick two or three of the most noticeable differences in the map and write a general statement
for each. This will be your overview paragraph.

The more specific changes should be included in your main body paragraphs.

How to Describe Locations

You will also be expected to describe where things are maps and describe where changes have
occurred.

You can use ‘to the left’ and ‘to the right’, but a better way is to use ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ and
‘west’. I normally advise my students to draw the symbols on the question paper if they are not
already there.

Examples:

The forest to the south of the river was cut down.

A golf course was constructed to the north of the airport.

The houses in the southwest of the town were demolished.

The green fields to the city’s northwest were redeveloped as a park.

The airport in the city’s centre was relocated to the northeast of the river.

The school to the southeast was knocked down and a new one was built to the east of
the forest.
Finally, you will also be expected to use prepositions of place, e.g.
at/in/on/by/beside/to/off/from, to describe where things are.

Examples:

Dramatic changes took place in the city centre.

To the town’s south is a golf course surrounded by trees.

A new school was built next to the swimming pool.

The old road running from north to south was replaced by a new motorway.

A marina was built on the banks of the river.

Both maps display an island before and after it was developed for tourism.

The island is approximately 250 metres long, has palm trees dotted around it, is surrounded by
ocean and has a beach to the west. Over the period, the island was completely transformed
with the addition of a hotel and a pier; however, the eastern part of the island appears to have
been left undeveloped.

The most noticeable additions are the hotel rooms. 6 buildings, surrounding some trees, have
been built in the west of the island, and 9 buildings have been constructed in the centre of the
island. A reception building and a restaurant have been developed between the two
accommodation areas.

A pier has also been built on the island’s south coast, allowing yachts access to the resort. Apart
from the trees, the beach remains the only natural feature to remain relatively untouched;
however, it appears to be used for swimming.