IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Maps
1. How to Write Maps
Type of Questions
Two Maps: (1990 & 2000 = Past Tense & Past Perfect), (1990 & present day = Past Tense & Present Perfect),
(present day & 2030 = Present Tense & Future/Future Perfect)
Three Maps: (1990, 2000 & 2010 = Past, Past, Past Perfect), (1990, 2000, present day = Past, Past Perfect, Present
Perfect)
Proposal Maps
Comparison Maps

Essay Outline
Your essay should have 4 paragraphs:
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Paragraph 2 – Overview
Paragraph 3 – 1st Main Feature(s)
Paragraph 4 – 2nd Main Feature(s)

2. Writing Task 1: Report Structure

3. Analysing the Sample Essay

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

The map below shows the development of the village of Ryemouth between 1995 and present.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Introduction
Paraphrase the question by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure.
Question:
The map below shows the development of the village of Ryemouth between 1995 and present.

Introduction (Paragraph 1):

The map shows how a village called Ryemouth has developed over the last twenty-five years.

Overview (Paragraph 2):

Overall, it is evident that the infrastructure for housing and recreation has increased at the expense of agricultural
land and commercial fishing. There have been several changes, the most noticeable being the increases in
accommodation, the elimination of the fishing industry, and the introduction of sports facilities.
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Paragraph 3: (1st detailed paragraph: The village in 1995)

In 1995, to the south of the village where the sea is there was previously a fishing industry, with a fishing port
and quite a large fish market as well. Next to this was a small cafe. On the other side of the road running by the
sea stood a line of five shops and a hotel, while situated in the north east part of the village was farmland and a
park with trees. The main housing of the village was located in the north west around a main road that runs from
the coastal road, with twelve houses, four of them encircled by a smaller side-street.

Paragraph 4: (2nd detailed paragraph: The village nowadays)

Turning to the present-day map, it can be seen that the fishing facilities have all gone, being replaced by four
apartments, and the shops have become restaurants. The cafe remains, as does the hotel, with parking facilities
which it did not have before. Having been converted into a golf course, the farmland has now gone, while the
forest park has been removed to make way for tennis courts. Although the old houses remain, new ones have been
built, along with a new road with two new houses beside it.

Sample Answer

The map shows how a village called Ryemouth has developed over the last twenty-five years.

Overall, it is evident that the infrastructure for housing and recreation has increased at the expense of agricultural
land and commercial fishing. There have been several changes, the most noticeable being the increases in
accommodation, the elimination of the fishing industry, and the introduction of sports facilities.

In 1995, to the south of the village where the sea is there was previously a fishing industry, with a fishing port
and quite a large fish market as well. Next to this was a small cafe. On the other side of the road running by the
sea stood a line of five shops and a hotel, while situated in the north east part of the village was farmland and a
park with trees. The main housing of the village was located in the north west around a main road that runs from
the coastal road, with twelve houses, four of them encircled by a smaller side-street.

Turning to the present-day map, it can be seen that the fishing facilities have all gone, being replaced by four
apartments, and the shops have become restaurants. The cafe remains, as does the hotel, albeit with parking
facilities which it did not have before. Having been converted into a golf course, the farmland has now gone,
while the forest park has been removed to make way for tennis courts. Although the old houses remain, new ones
have been built, along with a new road with two new houses beside it.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

4. Grammar and Vocabulary for Maps

Verbs for maps
Change into General statement
Make bigger Take away Add something new
something else about changes
enlarge cut down build make into industrialize
expand demolish introduce convert modernize
extend knock down make into redevelop urbanize
pull down construct replace
remove erect transform

Nouns for maps

Change into General statement
Make bigger Take away Add something new
something else about changes
enlargement cutting down building conversion industrialization
expansion demolition introduction redevelopment modernization
extension knocking down making into replacement urbanization
pulling down construction transformation
removing erection

Describing Changes: Present Perfect Passive

When you write changes between a time in the past and now, the main tense is the Present Perfect Tense.
❖ A new tram line has been built………
❖ ……… a bike rental scheme has been introduced………

However, take place, happen, become, experience, change and make way for cannot be passive.
A number of important changes have taken place in the last decade.
The city has become much more modern.
The cinema was knocked down to make way for a new shopping centre.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Useful Phrases for writing maps

Another striking change is ………
A notable change has been ………
The whole city has experienced a significant modernization ………
An interesting development has been ………
There did not use to be a supermarket ………
The last few years have seen the building of ………

How to Describe Locations

You will need to describe where things are on the map, as well as the changes they went through. One way of
describing the locations would be ‘to the left’ and ‘to the right’. Still, since you have a map it’s a better idea to
use the cardinal directions ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ and ‘west’. Most of the time they are provided on the map,
otherwise just draw your own little compass on the map. Just remember north is up and east is on right.

• The forest to the south of the river was completely cut down.
• A school was constructed to the north-east of the station.
• The green fields to the south-west of the hospital were redeveloped as a park.
• The airport in the centre of the city was relocated to the north-east of the river.
• The school to the south-east was knocked down and a new one was built to
the north of the forest.

Prepositions of Place
• Dramatic changes took place in the village centre.
• To the south of the town, there is a recreational park surrounded by trees.
• A new playground was built next to the swimming pool.
• A completely new marina was built on the river banks.
• The forest near the river was cut down.
• A new railway running from north to south was built.
• The footpath by the river was expanded.
• Parking facilities were added to the city center.
• The school across from the park was extended and new sports facilities were built.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

How to Describe General Changes

▪ Over the 20-year period, the area has witnessed big changes especially to the farmland areas which were
redeveloped.
▪ From 1990 to 2010 a new housing estate was constructed where a school once stood.
▪ The forest and green spaces have ben profoundly affected over the two decades and were replaced by
housing.
▪ In the period from 1990 onward, the leisure facilities were completely renovated.
▪ The town used to be very green but it has become much more industrialized in the last 15 years.
▪ A new stadium has been built and more sport facilities have been opened up over the years.
▪ It appears that the settlement has become a much more modern city, with far more shopping and
transport amenities.
▪ A comparison of the two maps reveals a change from a largely rural to a mainly urban landscape.
▪ It is clear from the maps that the village has changed substantially, from being a largely rural and
agricultural settlement in 1930 to a largely residential one in 2010.
▪ Notably, the number of residential units in Stokeford increased dramatically between 1930 and 2010. By
2010 the number of houses had grown to such an extent that there was no farmland left.

Buildings
• Demolished: The industrial estate was demolished and developed into a sports ground by the local community.
• Knocked-down: The shops were knocked-down and replaced with a skyscraper.
• Flattened: The factory in the city centre was flattened and relocated to the north of the city.
• Replaced with: The old warehouses were replaced with new hotels.
• Renovated: The local government had the sports facilities renovated and the small park was made into a
children's playground.
• Constructed: A harbor was constructed at the edge of the river.
• Reconstructed: The school was completely reconstructed after the passing of the hurricane.
• Developed into: the industrial estate was demolished and developed into a sports ground by the local
community.
• Extended: The school was extended by adding 2 more buildings.
• Expanded: The residential area expanded south-east by constructing 3 more homes.
• Relocated to: The factory in the city centre was flattened and relocated to the north of the city.
• Converted into: The factory was converted into apartments.
• Modernized: The infrastructure was modernized by converting the dirt roads into concrete streets.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Trees and Forests

• Cleared: The trees were cleared to make way for a new residential area.
• Cut-down: The forest was cut-down and made space for a shopping centre.
• Chopped-down: The forest was entirely chopped-down to make way for a new highway.
• Removed: Some of the trees were removed to build a new playground.
• Planted: A new forest was planted west of the factory

Roads, Bridges and Railway Lines

• Constructed: A new railroad was constructed next to the village.
• Built: A new bridge was built to replace the old one.
• Extended: The main road was extended and a new bridge built over the river.
• Expanded to: The main road was expanded to the north to connect to the other town.
• Removed: The railway lines were removed and replaced by a metro line.

Leisure Facilities
• Opened: A brand new sports centre opened just north of the school.
• Set up: A brand new skate park was set up close to the swimming pool.
• Developed: A playground was developed next to the school.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Developmental Maps (Three Maps)

The maps below the changes that have taken place in Meadowside village and Fonton, a neighbouring town, since
1962.

The maps illustrate how Meadowside village and Fonton, which is a neighbouring town, have developed
over three different time periods – 1962, 1985 and the present.
Overall, Meadowside village increased in size and has become Meadowside Suburb as it merged together
with Fonton. Furthermore, there have been significant changes in infrastructure, housing and facilities over the
period given.
In 1962, both Meadowside and Fonton were completely separate with no roads or rail connecting them.
While Fonton had a railway line running through it to the north, Meadowside, located to the west of Fonton, only
had a small road from the west. In 1985, there was a considerable growth in the size of Meadowside village and
Fonton. The small road in Meadowside village had been converted into a main road and was also extended to the
east to connect with Fonton. Meadowside, moreover, had also developed a housing estate in the west, a leisure
complex and a supermarket in the south.
Currently, both Meadowside, which is now a suburb, and Fonton are joined. The railway line, which runs
through Fonton, has been extended to the west where a train station has been built. To the north of the station, a
hotel has been counstructed and opposite the station, to the south, there is now a business park.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Proposal Maps
Occasionally, a Task 1 question may show two maps and ask you to compare them, or give you one map showing
different locations for a proposed development such as an airport, school or hyper-market. When dealing with
this kind of map, one of the best approaches is to highlight the following points.
✓ Describe the main features of the map and their relative positions.
✓ Describe and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each location. Consider space, transportation
and environmental issues.
✓ Summarise by stating which location is best and explain why.

Sample Essay 3
The map below shows three possible sites for the construction of a shopping center (A, B and C) in the town of
Pellington.

Introduction: Describe the map by paraphrasing the topic in the question.

The diagram is an illustration of the three potential sites for a proposed shopping center in the town called
Pellington with a population of 120,000.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Overview: State which is the best location with reasons

Overall, none of the sites is perfect, but building the shopping center in site A would combine the easiest access
for the majority of the customers with low environmental impact and congestion despite its limited available
space.

Detail 1 – Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of A

Looking at Site A first, it is located in the residential area near the traffic free zone which would make it difficult
for people to drive to the shopping center. However, it would be easily accessible to not just local residents but
also industrial workers and those from Hampford, which is distant from the town center by 15 km away, with
30,000 people via the railway. Another disadvantage is that since it is situated in the residential area, it would
provide not only the restricted parking space to the shoppers but also the limited area on which the shopping
center is going to be built.

Detail 2 – Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of B

Turning to Location B which is in the countryside to the northeast of the town, the major benefit is that shoppers
could easily drive to the shopping center because of its proximity to the motor way. As the country is quite empty,
it would provide spacious area for the shopping center itself and parking space. Yet, the environmental destruction
caused by the construction of the center, and the on-going pollution would be serious drawbacks to be considered.

Detail 3 – Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of C

Site C is also in the countryside to the south of the city. Although it would give easier access to local residents as
well as factory workers by rail, it would not be very attractive due to the carbon emissions from the factories,
which would pose a threat to the health of shoppers in the long run.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Model Essay
The diagram is an illustration of the three potential sites for a proposed shopping center in the town called
Pellington with a population of 120,000.
Overall, none of the sites is perfect, but building the shopping center in site A would combine the easiest access
for the majority of the customers with low environmental impact and congestion despite its limited available
space.
Looking at Site A first, it is located in the residential area near the traffic free zone which would make it difficult
for people to drive to the shopping center. However, it would be easily accessible to not just local residents but
also industrial workers and those from Hampford, which is distant from the town center by 15 km away, with
30,000 people via the railway. Another disadvantage is that since it is situated in the residential area, it would
provide not only the restricted parking space to the shoppers but also the limited area on which the shopping
center is going to be built.
Turning to Location B which is in the countryside to the northeast of the town, the major benefit is that shoppers
could easily drive to the shopping center because of its proximity to the motor way. As the country is quite empty,
it would provide spacious area for the shopping center itself and parking space for shoppers. Yet, the
environmental destruction caused by the construction of the center, and the on-going pollution would be serious
drawbacks to be considered.
Finally, Site C is also in the countryside to the south of the city. Although it would give easier access to local
residents as well as factory workers by rail, it would not be very attractive due to the carbon emissions from the
factories, which would pose a threat to the health of shoppers in the long run.
(304 words)
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Comparison Maps (Find the difference)

Sample Essay 4 (My Essay)
The maps show two different underground tunnel systems for cars in two Australian cities.

The two maps compare the differences between the separate underground tunnel systems for the passage
of cars in two Australian cities.

Overall, what stands out from the charts is that there are five distinguishable differences between the
systems; construction period, total cost, physical parameters, vehicle capacity and the type of material above the
tunnel.

Looking at the details, the first worth-mentioning factor is the construction period to build the tunnels.
The former was built within a 12-year period from 1986 to 1998 while it takes just four years to construct the
latter with the construction commencing in 2002 and ending in 2006. Although it took longer to build the first
tunnel, the total cost was relatively cheaper compared to the latter (555 million and 1.1 billion respectively).

Turning to the remaining differences, the first tunnel was dug under 1.5 meters underneath a body of water
and sand while the second was excavated under 2.5 meters beneath a layer of stone and clay. The total length
running along the tunnels is also dissimilar as the second one has an extension of 1.4 kilometers compared to its
counterpart. Finally, the first tunnel system is four lanes wide while the second tunnel system is six lanes wide.

(204 words) Band 7

IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

Sample Essay 5 (My Essay)

The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The maps provide information regarding the changes to be taken place at the airport and its final
appearance after redevelopment in the next year.
Overall, it is readily apparent that the size of the airport will dramatically increase with new facilities
around the perimeter as well as some relocations of existing ones.
Looking at the details, the first point worth-mentioning is the shape of the airport as it will change from a
rectangular building into an irregular one with an addition of Y-shaped structure at the top. In addition, there are
altogether eight gates around the current airport which will likely to be increase to a total number of 18
surrounding the whole upper area. Currently, visitors can enter and exit the airport from the main entrance each
catering for departures and arrivals, the new proposed building is going to increase two more at the front.
Turning to the facilities inside the building, according to the legend, the existing café at the north adjacent
to the passport control office is predicted to be relocated to the southwest and northeast corners beside the newly
added ATM. The check-in counter is also going to be replaced by a facility where passengers can drop their bags
and the counter will be moved to the opposite of its original position. The remaining features are the installation
of sky train running in the Y-shaped structure which is to replace the walkway from the current building. Finally,
a car hire will be provided in the proposed building as well as some shops in the middle.
(259 words) Band 7
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

4. Homework
The diagram below shows the development of a particular area between 1965 and the present day.

The pictures below show the changes that took place at Laguna Beach from 1950 to 1990.
IELTS Writing Ye Nyi Nyi Lwin

The map below is the town of Canturbery. A new school (S) is planned for the area. The maps show two possible
sites for the school.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The plans below show a student room for two people and a student room for one person at an Australian university.