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How To Write an IELTS Map Essay

IELTS map questions are the easiest to answer. There are no numbers to analyse, just 2 or 3 maps to compare. Very occasionally, there might only be a single map, but this is rare.

The maps will be of the same location at different times. This could be in the past, the present time or a plan for a proposed development in the future. You are required to write about the changes you see between the maps.

There are 5 steps to writing   a high-scoring IELTS map essay:

1)  Analyse the question

2)  Identify the main features

3)  Write an introduction

4)  Write an overview

5)  Write the details paragraphs

I must emphasise the importance of steps 1 and 2. It is essential that you complete this planning stage properly before you start writing. You’ll understand why when I guide you through it. It should only take 5 minutes, leaving you a full 15 minute to write your essay.

In this lesson, we’re going to work through the 5 stages step-by-step as we answer a practice IELTS map question.

Before we begin, here’s a model essay structure that you can use as a guideline for all IELTS Academic Task 1 questions.

Ideally, your essay should have 4 paragraphs:

Paragraph 1  – Introduction

Paragraph 2  – Overview

Paragraph 3  – 1 st  main feature

Paragraph 4  – 2 nd  main feature

We now have everything we need to begin planning and writing our IELTS map essay.

Here’s our practice question:

The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Step 1 –  Analyse the question

The format of every Academic Task 1 question is the same. Here is our practice question again with the words that will be included in all questions highlighted.

Every question consists of:

• Sentence 1 – A brief description of the graphic
• Sentence 2 – The instructions
• The graphic – map, chart, graph, table, etc.

Sentence 2 tells you what you have to do.

You must do 3 things:

1.     Select the main features.

2.     Write about the main features.

3.     Compare the main features.

All three tasks refer to the ‘ main features ’ of the graphic. You  do not  have to write about everything. Just pick out 2 or 3 key features and you’ll have plenty to write about.

Step 2 – Identify the Main Features

All you are looking for are the main features. Start with the earliest map. Identify the key features and look to see how they have changed in the later map, and again in the final map if there are three.

Here are some useful questions to ask?

1) What time periods are shown?

Are the maps of past, present or future situations? This is important to note because it will determine whether you write your essay using past, present or future tenses.

The two maps in our practice IELTS map question show the village of Stokeford at two different times in the past. This immediately tells us that we will need to use the past tense in our essay.

2) What are the main differences between the maps?

What features have disappeared? What new features are in their place?

3) What features have remained the same over the time period?

Although the location on the maps will have undergone major development, some features may remain unchanged.

Also, think about directional language you can use, such as:

So,  what information is contained our maps? Here they are again.

Source: IELTS past paper

There are a number of different features we could select such as, the loss of the shops, the disappearance of farmland, the enlargement of the school and the development of the large house into a retirement home.

Many maps will contain far more changes than our sample maps and the changes may be more complex. In such cases, you won’t have time to write about all of them and will need to select just 2 or 3 main features to focus on.

Our maps are quite simple so we’ll list all 4 of the major changes I’ve just identified. 

Main feature 1:  The farmland has been built on.

Main feature 2:  The large house has been converted into a retirement home.

Main feature 3:  The school has been enlarged.

Main feature 4:  The shops have disappeared.

The key features you select will be the starting point for your IELTS map essay. You will then go on to add more detail later. However, with just 20 minutes allowed for Task 1, and a requirement of only 150 words, you won't be able to include many details.

We’re now ready to begin writing our essay. Here’s a reminder of the 4 part structure we’re going to use.

For this essay, we’ll adapt this a little to write about two of the features in Paragraph 3 and the other two features in Paragraph 4.

Step 3 – Write an Introduction 

In the introduction, you should simply paraphrase the question, that is, say the same thing in a different way. You can do this by using synonyms and changing the sentence structure. For example:

Introduction (Paragraph 1): 

The two maps illustrate how the village of Stokeford, situated on the east bank of the River Stoke, changed over an 80 year period from 1930 to 2010.

This is all you need to do for the introduction.

Step 4 – Write an Overview (Paragraph 2)

In the second paragraph, you should describe the general changes that have taken place. The detail comes later in the essay.

State the information simply. No elaborate vocabulary or grammar structures are required, just the appropriate words and correct verb tenses.

For example:

Overview  (Paragraph 2): 

There was considerable development of the settlement over these years and it was gradually transformed from a small rural village into a largely residential area.

Two sentences would be better than one for the second paragraph but we’ll be getting into the detail if we say more about these maps at this point, so we’ll leave the overview as one sentence.

Step 5  – Write the 1st Detail Paragraph

Paragraphs 3 and 4 of your IELTS map essay are where you include more detailed information. In paragraph 3, you should give evidence to support your first 1or 2 key features.

In the case of our main features, 1 and 3 are closely related so we’ll write about these two together.

Here they are again:

And this is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 3 :

The most notable change is the presence of housing in 2010 on the areas that were farmland back in 1930. New roads were constructed on this land and many residential properties built. In response to the considerable increase in population, the primary school was extended to around double the size of the previous building.

Step 6  – Write the 2nd Detail Paragraph

For the fourth and final paragraph, you do the same thing for your remaining key features. 

Here are the two we have left:

This is an example of what you could write:

Paragraph 4 :

Whilst the post office remained as a village amenity, the two shops that can be seen to the north-west of the school in 1930, no longer existed by 2010, having been replaced by houses. There also used to be an extensive property standing in its own large gardens situated to the south-east of the school. At some time between 1930 and 2010, this was extended and converted into a retirement home. This was another significant transformation for the village.

Here are the four paragraphs brought together to create our finished essay.

Finished IELTS Map Essay

This sample IELTS map essay is well over the minimum word limit so you can see that you don’t have space to include very much detail at all. That’s why it is essential to select just a couple of main features to write about.

Now use what you’ve learnt in this lesson to practice answering other IELTS map  questions. Start slowly at first and keep practicing until you can plan and write a complete essay in around 20 minutes.

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – all lessons.

IELTS Academic Writing  –  A summary of the test including important facts, test format & assessment.

Academic Writing Task 1  – The format, the 7 question types & sample questions, assessment & marking criteria.  All the key information you need to know.

Understanding Task 1 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 1 Essay  –  Discover  3 reasons why you must plan, the 4 simple steps of essay planning and learn a simple 4 part essay structure.

Vocabulary for Task 1 Essays  –  Learn key vocabulary for a high-scoring essay. Word lists & a downloadable PDF.

Grammar for Task 1 Essays   – Essential grammar for Task 1 Academic essays including, verb tenses, key sentence structures, articles & prepositions.

The 7 Question Types:

Click the links below for a step-by-step lesson on each type of Task 1 question.

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IELTS Map: Model Answer

Below is an IELTS map model answer which is estimated at band score 9. This is a comparison of three maps in different time periods for the academic writing task 1. If you wish to do practice exercises for grammar for the maps below, before you read this model, please follow the link: IELTS Map Comparison Exercise .

IELTS Map Example

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

Source: Map above not produced by IELTS Liz.

Model Writing Task 1: Map Comparison Model Answer

The three maps illustrate how Meadowside village and Fonton, which is a nearby town, have developed from 1962 to the present (in 1962, 1985 and now).

Overall, both Fonton and Meadowside village increased in size over the years until they eventually merged together, at which point Meadowside became a suburb. Furthermore, there have been significant changes to 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.

By 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, Meadowside has expanded further to the point where it has joined with Fonton and is now known as Meadowside Suburbs. The railway line, which runs through Fonton, has been extended reach a station, which has been built between Fonton and the suburbs along side the main road.  To the north of the station, a hotel has been constructed and opposite the station, to the south on the other side of the road, there is now a business park.

…………………

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These three maps demonstrated the layout of a village named Meadowside and its neighborhood in the respective years 1962, 1985 and present time . Basically, over the period of time this village converted into well developed suburb area with numerous changes taken place in terms of infrastructure. Initially, in year 1962 meadowside was a village with almost very empty spaces and there was not any connecting road available to its neighborhood Fonton. Although, in year 1985 a link road was built to connect both areas. Other infrastructure developments that took place was a leisure club, a targeted area for housing and a super market. Now comparing with current scenario, Meadowside is transformed into suburban area which is expanded towards Fonton. In the midst of this area a hotel, a station is built. Additionally a business park also built in front of main linking highway.

Hi, do we have to mention that the housing complex was build to the west or is it sufficient to just mention buildings that were built?

Generally, you would give locations. However, it really depends on how much information there is to relate. If there is a lot of information, you would choose how to present it differently to if there was only a bit of information. There are no fixed rules. Task 1 is a short report aimed at being around 170-190 words. Rarely does it go over 200 and if it does, it would only be around 210 words. Also, it is designed to be completed in just 20 mins. So, if you take those things into consideration, you’ll make certain choices and this is what you plan before you start writing.

Hi Liz, shouldn’t we maintain the writing task 1 structure as follows: Introduction, Overview, Detailed Paragraph 1 and Detailed Paragraph 2? But, here you have shown five paragraphs containing the whole essay. Could you help to solve my confusion?

The first thing to note is that task 1 is not an essay. It’s really important that you realise this. Task 2 is an essay and task 1 is a report. This is why the sentence structures are similar, language is similar and structure is similar. Regarding organisation of paragraphs, IELTS is testing your ability to group information together into paragraphs. There are no set rules for how many paragraphs you might have. But logically, you can see that in a short report (and IELTS reports are short), you will need an introduction, an overview and body paragraphs (plural). It is most likely that you will only need 2 body paragraphs. Almost all task 1 will have only two. But three are sometimes needed. That is why I create these model answers. I want you to see what must stay the same and where there is flexibility. So, you are doing the right thing in spotting these differences. But just know that if I’ve done it in a model answer, then it’s safe to do. My model answers are safe to learn from and I am careful in how I create them for learning purposes.

The maps show the changes that have taken place in meadowside village and a neighbouring town called Fonton since 1962. It shows meadowside village and Fonton town as two independent places in 1962 with no road or rail linking them. However, both places have now been connected by a road and a few other infrastructure have been constructed between them.

Overall, the maps show a significant growth in both places between 1962,1985 and now. The development started in 1985 with a housing estate, leisure complex and a superstore, all established in meadowside village. A road was also constructed this particular year linking meadowside village with Fonton town. Both places also expanded in terms of land mass between 1962 and 1985.

Currently, meadowside village has become a suburb and is presently called meadowside suburb, it has also further expanded and completely merged with Fonton town. Additionally, a hotel, station and bus park have been built between both places.

In conclusion, it is obvious that both meadowside village and fonton town have immensely seen major growth and development between 1962 and now.

I don’t usually comment, but I will say this: The overview is the most important paragraph in task 1. It contains all key features, not data and details. It is an general view of the main stages or main changes. You can’t have an overview and a conclusion in a report for task 1. Just the overview is required.

The map illustrates Meadowside village and Fonton and how they have developed over the years 1962, 1985 and presently.

Overall, Meadowside village has become bigger and is now Meadowside suburb as it has merged with Fonton. There are new roads connecting the two villages and new buildings have been built.

In 1962, Meadowside village and Fonton lie on either side not connected by road or rail. But it is visible that Fonton had a rail running through it from the north to the east. On the other hand, Meadowside village had a small road passing through it; it started in the north and moved to the west.

As we move to 1985, we can see that Meadowside village has been expanded and now facilitates a housing estate along with a leisure complex beside it. Across the road that runs through the village which was previously only a small road and is now a main road, we are able to notice the presence of a superstore on the south of the residential area which first appeared in 1985. It is noticeable that there is a road that passes through the village and Fonton from the west to east.

In terms of now, Meadowside is now a suburb. A new rail has emerged towards the east starting from a station located in the center of the two places. Just above the station is where the hotel is situated. Below the station, we can see the business park as well.

Hi can you please correct my mistakes and let me know if there is anything I can do to make this better. And what is a score that I can expect?

The maps presents the development of the urbanization in Meodowside village and the nearest located town Fonton, from year 1962. Meodowside and Fonton started far apart from eachother, but have gradually been structured over time into a bigger town with linking roads, trainroad tracks, and new-built housing.

In 1962 Meodowside village was situated singularly, without any connection to Fonton. The small village had a smaller road passing through. Fonton had only a trainway track going through town.

Under the period up until 1985, there was a significant change. Looking at the middle map, Meodowside has developed to a larger village and buildings as the housing estate and a superstore were constructed in additional. The small road was built wider and another linking road was shaped between the town and village.

After the year 1985, the infrastructure changed massively. A hotel with a nearby trainstation and a business park have been reinforced. Comparing now to 1962 shows a big difference and total connection creating a town out of the the prior village and town.

172 words 32 minutes

The map illustrates the information about the development of Meadowside and Fonton over three periods of time. Overall, it can be seen from the map that there was no development of Meadowside and Fonton in 1962. Meanwhile, in the present, there are so many facilities, including housing estate, superstore, hotel, train station and business park.

Initially, in 1962, there was no development in the landscape in the middle of area. There is only a road ran through Meadowside village and a railway in Fonton as well. Moreover, in 1985, a housing estate, superstore and leisure complex were built in Meadowside village. The road was upgraded to concrete road and connected to Fonton. Additionally, Fonton area was bigger than the 1962.

In the present, a hotel, train station and business park is built between Meadowside suburbs and Fonton. In addition, train station is connected to Fonton. Meadowside suburbs and Fonton area have merged into one major landscape.

Three maps are shown, depicting the composition of Meadowside village and the neighbouring town of Fonton in 1962, 1985, and in the present.

Overall, one can retrace the development and growth of the two communities with first, the building of a bigger and connecting road through Meadowside village into an enlarged Fonton and second, the incorporation into one continuously populated area with new shared infrastructures.

By 1985, the previously smaller road through Meadowside village had been rebuilt into a larger road, including a new section dividing from its curved path, leading straight into the town of Fonton. Further infrastructural changes have only been made after 1985. Nowadays, a novel railway terminus is situated in the area between the two communities, that provides access to the Fonton railway.

In terms of other buildings, both communities had grown considerably by 1985, with the map illustrating a housing estate, leisure complex and superstore located within Meadowside village. Since then, this housing estate has increased further, and a hotel and business park have been built next to the new station, centered in between the once two communities. connecting the formerly beforehand separate communities.

broo this is a 9.5 score band

i love u lizz

The maps depict both Meadowside village and Fonton town in their present and past appearances, dating back to 1985 and 1962.

Overall, it can be clearly seen that not only have the town and village been developed, they are also connected to each other among the considered periods. Similarly, a number of infrastructures have been developed.

In 1962, Fonton and Meadowside were ordinary towns and villages with no interconnection, but they had their own roots. In Meadowside village, there was a road expanding to the south-west of the village and north, and Fonton had a rail road running in the middle of the town. By the year 1985, for the first time, the village and the town had joined each other with the construction of a road. Furthermore, in Meadowside Village, there had been built a supermarket, a housing state, and a leisure complex to the southern part, to the western part, and to the northern part, respectively.

By present, both Meadowside village and Fonton town have been totally connected. There is a station right in the middle of town, a hotel to the north, and a business park to the south. And there is a noticeable extension of the railway to the middle of the town. Furthermore, the name of the village has been changed to Meadowside Suburs.

The maps show the development projects taking place in both Meadowside Village and Fonton, which is a neighboring town, from 1962 to the present era. Overall, there were significant changes in both towns, Meadowside village were extended in size and has become a Surber area. There is some infrastructure, a housing estate, and a leisure complex. Meadowside Village is connected by a main road to the Fonton. In 1992, both Meadowside Village and Fonton Town were completely separated. There is a railway track in Fonton Town, which runs through its North side, and a road in Meadowside Village which runs from its west side. In 1985, some changes were made in Meadowside Village. An estate housing and a complex leisure wade made on its North side and a superstore at its south side. Moreover, Meadowside Village was extended by a main road, which connect it to Fonton Town directly. At that present time, another railway track has been made, which comes from the Western side of Fonton Town. There is also a station made there. A business park has been constructed on the opposite side of the railway station. Besides this, a hotel has been constructed here. Shortly, it can be said that these two towns are completely merged.

The maps illustrate the developments that took place in the Meadowside village and its neighbouring town, Fonton since 1962. There are 3 maps and they show the same region across 3 different dates (1962, 1985, and current).

Overall, initially Fonton Town appears considerably larger than Meadowside village but as time passed, the meadowside village grew in size. It can be observed that Meadowside village had more changes compared to Fonton town. Currently, Meadowside village and Fonton Town are interlinked with many buildings and roads.

In 1962, Meadowside village had only one road passing through it which ran from the west to north while Fonton had a railway line from north to the east. The two did not have any interlinks between them for commute. By 1985 however, Meadowside village grew rapidly, with the road being expanded and a new section of road had been laid out to reach Fonton Town. The village had a housing estate, leisure complex, and a super-store.

Currently, Meadowside Village has transformed into Meadowside Suburbs and a new railway line has been established in Fonton Town which ends in a station situated nearly in the centre of the two localities. The Hotel lies to the north of the station compared to the business park being located in the south. The business park can be accessed from the road linking Meadowside suburbs and Fonton Town.

The maps provide information about two neighbouring settlements, Meadowside(a village) and Fonton(a town), which have undergone development in the space of 60years. Overall, there has been development in the infrastructure, housing and transport systems in both Meadowside and Fonton, and the two areas have increased in size over the years.

Notably, there was a huge difference in both the size of Meadowside and its infrastructures between 1962 to 1985 as housing estate, leisure complex and super store were all constructed in 1985 as opposed to the lack of these facilities in 1962 in the village. In the same period, Fonton town was developed with increased size and construction of road passing from the southeast to the southwest, connecting Meadowside and Fonton together.

At the moment, both Meadowside and Fonton has been transformed with amenities such as station, business park and a hotel which serve both the suburb and the town.

Impressively, while Meadowside was merely a village up till 1985, it is now a suburb area. Also, Fonton town and Meadowside are now connected together as their sizes have increased to joining each other.

you need to describe the map. stating the location of the buildings developed using the map axis will be better..

Hi Liz, I hope you are doing great on your job. I just want to know that if you have released any updated article for IELTS writing recently as I believe that structure of IELTS writing is modernized by the changes of time. Thank you so much in advance for your response.

The writing test hasn’t changed. The format is the same as it always was. The marking is the same. The techniques are the same. Nothing has changed.

Thank you for this update

You’re welcome 🙂

The map illustrate the change that foncton and meadowside village went through in three time periods (1962, 1985 and the present).

Overall, the two neighbors used to be separate with no road or railway connection whatsoever, the two entities managed to grow over time, first to be linked with a road and merged at the end with new different infrastructure facilities.

in 1962, Meadowside village had only one small road coming from the west of the village and heading north. Meanwhile, foncton had a railway coming from the north, passing through the city and going west.

in 1985, the only road in Meadowise village got increased with an extention linking to it’s neighboring village and going east.Furthermore, a housing estate and a leisure complex were builled north of the West-East road, and a superstore was constructed on the south side of the that road.

Currently, Meadowside village name changed to Meadowside suburbs as it merged with foncton, a new business park was constructed south to the East-west road, a new train station was build at the center of the merging neighbors with a new railroad linked to the old one, north of it, a hotel was build.

The maps illustrate the progress occurred in Meadowside village and its neighbor, Fonton in three different time periods.

Overall, there were significant changes clearly seen in these two areas, one of which is their merging at present.

In detail, both Meadowside and Fonton were separated in 1962. The foremost was still a small village with steep road that passed from north to west. The latter, on the other hand was larger in size with rail ran through north to east.

Meanwhile, in 1985 both towns increased their land areas. There were leisure complex, superstore and housing built in Meadowside. Moreover, the steep road was converted into wider roads, one of which was extended to Fonton.

At present, Meadowside village which is now a suburb is combined with Fonton. Hotel and station has been established in the eastern side with newly built business park adjacent to the main road connected to Fonton. Alternatively, Fonton formed additional railway across west nearby suburb.

This map illustrates how Meadowside village and Fonton , which is neighbour town, have developed over three different times (1982, 1985 and now). Now Meadowside village is grown much more than 1982, it is merge with Fonton and grown significate infrastructure, 1962, this two village were completely separated. There where no rail and Road transportation, they didn’t have any kind of communication. They was only road from west. 1985, there was growth in Meadowside village, there was Leisure Complex, Housing Estate in west. Super Store in south. Small road converted to main road and also extended to Fonton has also developed. Now, they are now connected through subways and fonton is now joined .They are more developed. Railways are built in west and run in fonton where the station are built. To north side of the station, a hotel is construction and opposite the station . There is the business park built in south.

Hi Liz ! Thank you so much for sharing with us such a well-explained essay. I found your website veru useful. I will take IELTS exam in the coming month and I will inform my score with you.

Sincerely, Anvar

The way you explain is extremely beautiful like you. And apologies if i am crossing my limit but your smile could make anyone’s day. Thank you for providing all the information regarding task 1 and 2. Keep smiling.

That’s a lovely comment. Thank you. I’m glad my lessons are useful 🙂

Are you briliant teacher

you are really very good person and Don’t forget keep always smiling 😊

The map illustrates the meadowside village and Fonton which are the neighbouring towns, have developed over the different time periods from 1962, 1985 and the present era.

Overall, the Meadowside village developed their infrastructure which includes transportation, buildings, hotels etc and connected with the Fonton town.

In 1962, both the villages Fonton and Meadowside were not developed as there was no means of transportation between these two places. While Fonton had a railway line running from the north to eastern side of the village. Whereas Meadowside had a small road running from the northern part to western side of the village.

In 1985, there has been considerable changes in both the villages, especially in Meadowside village. The small road which was running from north towards the western part of the region had been converted into a highway road and the southern part of this road were merged with another road line which connects to Fonton village. Since then travelling between two villages became more convenient. Moreove in Meadowside village three important landmarks were added to their infrastructure, the Leisure complex in the western part, Housing estate in the eastern side and Super store at the southern area of the village.

At present both the villages were developed by improving the mode of transportation, as new connection railway lines were constructed from the western part of Fonton towards the centre location between two villages. To enhance the tourist economy of this area, they built a hotel behind the railway station and the business park on the opposite side of the station towards the south.

The map compares the development of Meadowside Village and its neighboring town Fonton throughout three periodical times (1962, 1985, and present time). Overall, the size area of the village and the town have increased and both areas become one union with Meadownside become a suburb area under Fonton administration. There are also developments in infrastructures such as roads, railways, housing, and business center. In initial year, Meadowside was only a small village with a small road crossing through the village. Located in the east of the village, there was Fonton, a neighboring town with railway running through it. However, there was no road that is channeling both areas. In 1985, the size of both areas increased. The big road was built in this year, being the hub between the village and the town. There were also a development in infrastructure, as housing estate, leisure complex, and superstore were built in Meadowside village. In present time, these two areas eventually merge as one, results in Meadowside became a suburb under Fonton town. They also built some facilities in area between Fonton town and the suburbs, such as hotel and business park. The railway line which once was only running through Fonton now extends to Meadowside as a new station was built around there.

The maps indicate the developments of a village called Meadowside and of a near town called Fonton, over a period started in 1962.

Overall, it can be seen that over the period in question the village and the town were expanded with the addition of a motorway and some facilities. Nowadays, Fonton and Meadowside are connected to each other.

In 1962 the village covered a small area and was crossed by a small street. In the following thirteen years it was improved, with the additions of a leisure complex, a housing estate and a super-store. Also Fonton was expanded and the two sites, in 1985, were connected with a motorway, which crossed both of them, from west to east.

Now, Meadowside and Fonton share only one area. To the west, there are Meadowside suburbs and to the east there is Fonton. The most noticeable additions are the hotel which is collocated between them in the north of the area, the station, built along the motorway and the business park.

Keep up the good job ✊Your explanation is liked me 😉

The rendered map illustrates the information about the improvments in town namely frenton in 32 years between 1990 to 2012.

Overall, it can be clearly seen from the map that there were tremendous changes after three decades in frenton. Se buldings had been improved. At the outset , school and library were only buildings which stay unchanged and in west side of high street . Trees were cut down to set up a techpark in left bottom side of town, further more , there was a bank beside the school was converted to restaurant . Hospital in the centre had been axpanded . Proceeding further , bottom playing feild with trees was demolished in order to make blocks of flates , new flats also opened alongside high street . Houses were changed to flats. There were cafe and park in east side of town which were improved into hotel and golf course . Theatre and shops were modernized in cimema as well as supermarket in last year

Hey Liz, i just want to know that can we write things in brackets as you have done in introduction, is it accepted in ielts.

Yes, of course. It’s 100% fine and in fact very useful for Writing Task 1. However, don’t overuse them. You need to vary the way you present data. They are mainly useful for line graphs, bar charts, tables and pie charts.

The map shows the different development for three years (1962,1985 and currently) in Meadowside village and Foton, a neighbouring town.

In general, the small road was replaced by big two main roads. One of them running through the Meadoside village and the other crossing the south-east of Foton. The two states have been together in the present and the size of the place was increased. There are more buildings were constructed during the three years.

In 1962, the village was spirited from the other. Also, there were no buildings and connecting the main road between them. The size of tow places was small. However, Foton was bigger than the village.

In 1985, Meadowside village constructed by lot of buildings such as ( i can’t see the names) On the other hand, Foton remains the same thing without any buildings except the size of the place which has been increased during the period.

In the present, the two places become bigger together and the have been untied by a big road accessing the place from the southeast to the southwest. And the other one from the north ending with the previous road. Between the main roads in. northeast there has been built a hotel and a station. So the number of entertainment buildings has been increased.

Hi, Liz, Hope you are safe. I have a doubt about your writing task 1 practise charts.

Which tense to use for the map “an island before and after the construction of some tourist facilities”?

It would depend on the fixed date. If the before date is in the past, you use past tense. If the after date is in our current past, you use past tense. However, if it is in our future, you use the future forms. English grammar rules apply as normal to IELTS.

Thank you, Liz, but there are no dates in the question only before and after. That’s why I’m confused.

Where did you find this question? Which IELTS Cambridge book did you find it in?

Pardon, the section’s name is ” IELTS CHARTS FOR PRACTICE”.

I know the one. You use past tense for “before” and present tense of “after”.

Thank you so much, Liz. Thank you for your valuable time.

Thanks Liz 😍💜

Its clear now Liz . Thankyou so much for quick response and help.

I wanna ask how is this task 1 estimated at band score 9 as it has 200+ words. I read in one of your reply that band score 9 has words between 170 and 190.

Can you please elaborate?

Don’t confuse advice with rules. There is no upper limit for words. However, you should aim for between 160 and 190 words (more or less). Writing more might lead you to add more detail and also increase your chances of making more language errors. You don’t get a particular band score because you have written a particular number of words. As I am fully trained and also a native English speaker, I can get away with reaching slightly over 200, but even so, most of my model answers fall just under 190 words.

Liz thank you so much 😊

Thanks you so much Liz mam ❤️❤️

Dear Liz I heard that there is a new rule of British Council that there should write a conclusion in Writing part 1? Is it true?

No. Writing task 1 is a report and you will see on the band score descriptors published by IELTS that the examiner is looking for an overview. Some people write a conclusion which is actually an overview – that is fine. It is about content and functionality. A conclusion traidtionally contains your opinions summarised – task 1 cannot contain opinions. A conclusion traditionally restates main points – task 1 cannot have repeated information. An overview is the one and only paragraph containing the key features of the task – it can be put after the introduction or at the end – some people put it at the end and call it an conclusion. That is the reason you are confused.

@Liz, which one is the best and good for achieving the IELTS band score. 1. Introduction > Overview > Paragraph 1 > Paragraph 2. 2. Introduction with overview > Paragraph 1 > PParagraph 2 > Conclusion.

I am really so confused between above them. Please share your opinion.

See this page to learn: https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-writing-task-1-lessons-and-tips/ . Use everything I have written to train yourself. That is the purpose of this site 🙂 The answer is there for you to find 🙂

Is it a must to write a conclusion in Task 1? Many people say, that you lose marks if there is no conclusion paragraph

You are immediately penalised if you do not write a conclusion in task 2. You are also immediately penalised if you do not write an overview in task 1.

I have heard that there should be no conclusion or overview in diagrams of writing task 1

That is completely untrue. ALL writing task 1, for the academic paper, MUST have an Overview.

Liz is considered by me to be perfect teacher for all type of information regarding ielts. Thanks for giving ur precious time to us.🙏🙏

Hi Liz,I just wanna know if it is a band 9 sample ?!

And as i realize from this sample , each paragraph explains about only the related map.I want to know whether we need to compare all the three maps with each other or not.

In writing task 1, you compare when necessary – it is not necessary to compare all things at all times. You task is to write a report which is about reporting features – comparison often only comes in the overview. For a diagram, it sometimes doesn’t come at all. For some bar charts (not all) it is the main feature of the report. Each task type is different.

Hello Mam…some IELTS coaching institutes say that we should write overall in task 1 academci at last instead of after introduction because it also also like a conclusion and we write conclusion always at last…is it okay with this?

There are no fixed rules about this in IELTS. You can choose the position of the overview. However, remember that this is not an essay – it is a report.

This task contain much more words than 150 …i think we are suppose to write upto Maximum 180 word… .

Your task is to write over 150 words. A high band score task 1 will usually have between 170 and 190 words. On the whole, it is best to avoid 200 words plus in order to reduce the density of errors and show the ability to select information.

Dear Liz can we write “Meadowside village has been increased in size” But you have written “Meadowside village increased i size” we can still see that the village has increased.But why didn’t you write it in present perfect passive.Please clarify

Meadowside village increased in size” is correct. You would not choose a passive voice for that statement.

I just watched your Map video Liz, in that you told that we should use the key ( Housing area), (town center) to change into small letters but in this model band 9 sample response it isn’t changed into small letters (meadows and fonton). Pls kindly clarify my doubt. Thanks to YOU

You need to listen much more carefully to my video lessons. I did not say you remove ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. I said you must adapt the headings or labels to make them grammatically correct when you write them in a sentence. The word “Tennis” is usually given with a capital letter in a bar chart, but we do not use a capital letter with that word in an English sentence. The word “Food” might have a capital letter in a graph, but we don’t use it with a capital letter in an English sentence. You need to look at your map or chart and decide which headings must have the capital letter changed to make it grammatically correct in a sentence. Do you understand now?

Hotel has been constructed or hotel has constructed . What is duffernce between both sentences. Is it same meaning? Plz help me 🙏

The first is passive voice. You need to learn when to use it and when to use active voice.

The difference is bellow: someone has constructed the hotel the hotel has been constructed by someone

Writing task 1 I do not feel like writing properl.So learn me

This website is for people learning IELTS skills for a high score. It is not for people struggling with English. If your English level is not strong, you will need to improve your English before you think about IELTS.

Hlw, in this task there are more than 4 paragraphs but in your video you told that there will be 4 paragraphs .. is it fine to write more paragraphs?? I am so confused now

The most common is 4. There is no fixed rule about the number of paragraphs for IELTS writing – only advice. It also depends on the task you are given and the information in the map or graph.

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IELTS Task 1: Maps

by Dave | Sample Answers | 0 Comment

These are maps that I’ve collected over the years from real past IELTS exams and other practice materials.

If you want to stay up to date with all the latest task 1 questions, you can find those here .

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And if you want the other types of task 1 images, click below:

Line Graphs

Here are the IELTS maps!

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IELTS Map Sample

In this IELTS map sample, also sometimes considered as an IELTS plan, you have to compare the layout of a park in 1920 with today. 

Organising by the Features

When you write about an IELTS map or plan, you should make sure you mention all the features shown.

You could start by describing fully the first map then move onto the next, as is the case in this IELTS task 1 map . However, another way it to do it by the features (the items you see in the map). 

This is an IELTS map sample where the latter organisation is used, and each feature is discussed in turn. 

Now take a look at the model answer.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The plans below show a public park when it first opened in 1920 and the same park today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

Model Answer

The map compares Grange Park in 1920 with the current time. Several features have moved, but a main change is the development of an amphitheatre, a water feature and the removal of the fountain.   

Looking at accessibility, the park kept it’s two original entrances on Arnold Avenue and Eldon Street that have been there since its opening in 1920, but on today’s map we see they have added underground parking for cars off of Eldon Street as well.

In 1920 they chose to have seating placed all around the edge of the park, while the updated map shows that seating has now been concentrated around the central park feature. The same is true of the multiple rose gardens that the park originally featured which have now been concentrated into one central rose garden, with only one left in its original location.  

They kept an entertainment area in the same location in the west of the park, though it has been upgraded from a stage to a full amphitheatre. The park's water attraction, formerly a pond with water plants in the north-east corner, has moved and is now a water feature where the glasshouse once stood. 

While today’s park no longer features the central fountain, it does now include a cafe and children’s play area for visitors to enjoy, along with plenty of open space around the features..

(228 Words)

The IELTS map sample is organised well as it clearly explains the information from each of the time frames one-by-one.

It fully fulfils the task as it makes comparisons of each of the features, explaining exactly what has changed or remained the same. 

It has an overview at the beginning that mentions some of the changes (it's not enough just to say that changes occurred - you should mention the main changes). 

There is some good use of locational language in the IELTS map sample as the response regularly mentions where things are located and uses some language of location, such as 'north-east'. 

You must also place in some complex forms and sentences , and this has been done in several places, with the use of adverbial clauses for example. 

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More on IELTS Maps:

IELTS Map Writing: Using the language of location

This IELTS map writing sample answer is about an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities, and it demonstrates language of location.

IELTS Task 1 Map: Describing each map in turn and using tenses

For an IELTS task 1 map you often have to compare a past map with a present map. This is an IELTS map sample answer for this type of question.

IELTS Map Writing Task 1 Sample: Describing changes to a town

Sometimes may be asked to describe an IELTS map in task 1 of the IELTS Test. This is a map of Brandfield with two proposed sites for a shopping mall. There is a model answer.

IELTS Map Practice: Learn and practice the language of location

This IELTS map practice exercise improves your skills in the language of location for maps. Choose the correct word to fit in the gap.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Maps Lesson

Introduction.

This guide on IELTS Writing Task 1 maps questions will cover:

• Different kinds of map question
• Describing specific changes
• Describing general changes
• Describing locations
• Sample answer

You will also be able to learn some new vocabulary that will help you deal with any Task 1 maps question.

In the IELTS writing test, you might be asked to describe a map in task 1. This type of question is becoming increasingly popular- in fact, it was on the exam last weekend here in Vietnam- and in my opinion, the easiest one to score high marks in if you’re prepared.

Many students, books and teachers overlook this type of question, and it is, therefore, a bit of a shock when one comes up. Therefore, if you are prepared, you will probably do better than most of the other students.

Different Kinds of Map Question

There are three main types of map questions:

• Describe one map in the present day.
• Describe two maps- one in the present and one in the future.
• Describe two maps- one in the past and one in the present.

The first kind is very rare, as it only requires you to use the present simple, and no comparisons can be made.

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.

The third is the most common and will be the main focus of this post.

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.

Also, as this is a man-made process, we will use the passive.

Source: Cambridge English Practice Papers.

To describe two maps, I advise my students to follow a four-paragraph 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.

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.

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.

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.

• Over the period, the area witnessed dramatic changes.
• From 1995 to 2005, the city centre saw spectacular developments.
• The village changed considerably over the period.
• During the 10-year period, the industrial area was totally transformed.
• Over the past 20 years, the residential area was totally reconstructed.
• Over the period, the old docks were totally redeveloped.
• Between 1995 and 2005, the old houses were rebuilt.
• 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.

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.

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.

Sample Answer

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.

Do you need me to correct your essays and give you feedback on them? Check out our essay correction service .

I hope this lesson has helped you and if you have any questions, please comment below.

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How to describe a map for academic task 1

In task 1 of the academic writing component of the IELTS exam , you may be asked to describe a map or plan.

The diagram will be of a building, street, village, city or town plan that may ask you to contrast the past and present, or the present and future.

Your writing will be scored on four criteria: task achievement, coherence, lexical resources and grammatical accuracy. Let’s review techniques to achieve a good score in all four areas.

1. Organise your thoughts

TIP: While planning, look for opportunities to group the information, for example; both maps may have an area that is unchanged between the time dates. This can be written up as:

2. Task achievement

3. coherence.

The format of your text should be written in three to four paragraphs: an introduction, main paragraph(s) and conclusion.

For example, use your second paragraph to give details of the first map and write about the next map in your third paragraph.

4. Language

Be sure not to repeat the vocabulary shown on the map, but use your own words for the description. Let’s consider useful vocabulary to describe a map or plan.

Of course, try to use synonyms to add variety to your use of language. Synonyms of illustrate are highlight, indicate or demonstrate .

= This map highlights a project to transform the green park into a play area for children.

There is a large residential area between the small lake and the park.

The airport is currently located north-east of the town.It will be moved to the west of the park where there is more space.

Use a range of tenses. As you may compare the present with future plans, show your ability to use theses times:

There have been two new roads built around the border of the town.

Video: Describe an IELTS map - task 1. With band 9 model answer

Useful links to help you prepare for academic task 1:

• TOEFL Writing Correction Topics
• OET Mock Tests
• Writing Correction
• Speaking Mock Test
• Reading Course
• Listening Practice Tests
• FREE Practice Tests
• OET Writing Correction
• OET Reading Course
• OET Speaking Mock Test
• TOEFL Writing Correction
• PTE Writing Correction
• OET Listening Practice Tests
• OET (Occupational English Test)
• PTE (Pearson Test of English)
• Academic Task 1

IELTS Map Academic Writing Guide

• Task 1 Guide
• Table & Bar
• Bar & Pie
• Table & Pie
• Compare Contrast
• Identifying Trends

This guide will help you with IELTS map chart task 1 with sample questions and tips designed to achieve full marks in the IELTS Academic writing task 1 .

Table of Contents

1.1 objective, 1.2 skills used, 2.1 two maps- one in the past and one in the present, 2.2 two maps- one in the present and one in the future, 2.3 two maps- two in the past, 3.1 introduction, 3.2 overview, 3.3 main body paragraphs.

• IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

5.1 Verbs to Describe Changes in Maps

5.2 noun phrases, 5.3 language to describe location, 5.4 linking phrases for change, 5.5 linking phrases to introduce areas, 6.1 present perfect passive, 6.2 past simple passive, 6.3 past perfect passive, 6.4 relative clauses, 7.1 sample answer commentary.

• Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Quiz- Check Your Understanding

1. IELTS Map Overview

Maps are not a very common IELTS writing task 1 question for academic module. In this type of question, you will be given two or three maps and asked to describe the main changes that can be seen in different time periods (past, present or future). Each IELTS map will show a simplified diagram of the same fictional city or place and the changes that have occurred over time.

You have to write a 150-word formal task 1 report that summarises and compares the most important changes you see in the maps. You should produce your report in 20 minutes in the exam.

You are being tested on the same skills for each writing task 1. You need to:

• Produce a report using a formal register
• Report and summarise the key features of the maps
• Describe and compare any changes

2. IELTS Task 1 Map Questions

You will always be given more than one map so that you can compare the diagrams. You may be given two or even three maps that show changes in the same city or place in the past, present and/or future .

Here are some examples:

The maps below describe the main changes which have happened in the city of Oakville between 2010 and today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The maps below describe the main changes that are predicted to happen in the city of Oakville between 2010 and 2050.

The maps below describe the main changes that happened in the city of Oakville between 2010 and 2020.

IELTS External links

Also, read the following IELTS Report Writing Guides

• IELTS Bar Chart
• Line Graph IELTS
• Pie Chart for IELTS
• IELTS Academic Table
• IELTS Academic Process Diagram
• Maps for IELTS
• Combined - Table and Bar Chart
• Combined - Bar Chart and Pie Chart
• Combined - Table and Pie Chart
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Guide

3. Structure for IELTS Map Questions

Your IELTS report should follow a clear and logical structure . The following sections will help you produce an excellent introduction , overview and main body paragraphs for an IELTS map in Academic Task 1 .

You only need to write one or two sentences for your introduction. All you have to do here is paraphrase the given statement and briefly mention any other important features of the maps.

Here are some possible ways to start your introduction:

• The two/three maps highlight
• The maps illustrate
• The maps show…

When you are paraphrasing, you do not need to change every word. However, you should aim to use synonyms, similar expressions and change the word order when it is appropriate to produce a sentence with the same meaning.

Here is an example of a well paraphrased statement for an IELTS map question:

Original statement: The maps below show the main changes which have happened in the city of Oakwood from 2010 to the present day.

Paraphrased statement: The maps highlight the key developments that have taken place in Oakwood, between 2010 and today.

Main Changes: The maps below show… The maps highlight …

…the main changes…

… the key developments …

…which have happened…

… that have taken place …

…from 2010 to the present day…

…between 2010 and today…

After your introduction, you must include an overview paragraph. This is where you summarise the main features of the maps (without going into too much detail). This paragraph is very important to help you do well in ‘ Task Achievement ’.

Here is a summary of what to include in your overview for IELTS map questions:

• Start your overview with ‘ Overall …’ , ‘ In summary ,… or ‘ To summarise …’ to make it easy for the examiner to locate your overview
• Identify general changes that have happened over time
• Consider if the city or place has become more modernised; more urban; more industrial; more attractive for tourists
• In general, what has been added or removed , e.g., are there more facilities or less green spaces?
• Make sure to use an appropriate tense (e.g. if the map is in the present day, use the present tense)

After your more general overview, you can go into detail about the maps in your main body paragraphs.

Consider the following points when writing your main body paragraphs:

• Make sure to use a range of correct tenses ( see Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Map )
• Select between six and eight important changes to write about
• Include the year when referring to each map
• Use linking phrases for maps to introduce different areas of the city
• Include the main changes relating to: things that have been made bigger/smaller; been added; taken away; changed into something different
• Consider changes that relate to: transport; infrastructure; industry; buildings; size; location
• Include the location of the changes on the map (e.g., did the changes happen in the North, South-East etc.)

4. IELTS Writing Task 1 Band Descriptors Explained

Check out our section on IELTS Writing Band descriptors   in our IELTS writing Task 1 Masterclass for helpful hints.

5. Vocabulary for IELTS Maps

Here are some common verbs that are useful when describing different types of changes in maps:

You can also convert many of the verbs above to nouns to describe changes in maps using the structure the + noun + of + noun . For example:

To give accurate information about the maps, you need to include the location in which the changes have occurred. For example:

Compass directions (if the map has a compass)

• If we look at the south of the city…
• Regarding the north-west of the city…
• … to the east of the city…
• To the west of the river…
• … on the north/south/east/west side of the river…

Top/Bottom or Left/Right (if the map does not have a compass)

• In the top right hand corner of the map
• At the bottom left …

If you are using the construction the + noun + of + noun you need to introduce it with a linking phrase to complete the sentence. For example:

• The last few years have seen the conversion of offices to flats.
• One noticeable improvement is the redevelopment of the city centre.
• One significant change is the modernisation of the bus station.
• A further change is the extension of the road.
• An interesting development is the pedestrianisation of the city
• Another change has been the expansion of the library
• One change has been the introduction of shared bikes.
• A significant development is the removal of the old train station.

To develop cohesion in your report you can use linking phrases to introduce areas such as:

• If we look at the north/south/east/west of the city…
• Regarding the top/bottom of the map…
• As regards the city centre…

6. Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Map

The present perfect passive can be used to describe changes in a map between a time in the past and now.

To form the present perfect passive, follow this structure : Object + have/has + been + past participle

Example: The trees in the city centre have been cut down and a new bus station has been built in their place.

The past simple passive is useful to describe changes in two maps that both occur in the past. You can not use the present perfect passive in this case as the time period is finished in the past.

To form the present simple passive, follow this structure: Object + was/were + past participle

Example: The trees in the city centre were cut down and a new bus station was built.

If you are describing two maps in the past, you can also discuss the date that something happened with the past perfect passive.

Example: In 2010, there were many trees in the south of the city, but by 2020, they had been cut down and replaced by a new bus station.

A relative clause is a type of complex sentence . Using a range of complex and simple sentences correctly can help to increase your score in Grammatical Range and Accuracy in IELTS writing task 1.

To form a relative clause, you need to use a relative pronoun .

Here are some examples of relative pronouns and how you can use them in an IELTS map question:

7. IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Sample Answer

The two maps highlight the main developments that have taken place in the coastal city of Oakville, over the period between 2010 and today.

Overall , what stands out from both maps is that Oakville has become far more developed and modern, with more accommodation, amenities and entertainment facilities, and fewer trees and green spaces.

In detail , if we look at the north of the city, one change has been that the forest in the north-east has been cut down and a cinema has been constructed in its place. In 2010, there did not used to be a university and student accommodation, but today these buildings have been erected in the north of the city . As regards the city centre , the past years have seen the introduction of an e-scooter rental scheme, making it easier for people to travel around the city centre without producing emissions.

Regarding the south of the city , a significant change is the conversion of the library in the south-west into new houses. Furthermore , new flats have also been built in the south-east of the city which could have become a green space in 2010. A further important development is the pedestrianisation of the road near the sea. Bars and restaurants have also been opened along the coast, meaning that this area is now nicer to visit for residents and tourists.

The report above would receive an estimated 9.0 overall in the IELTS writing task 1 Academic paper.

The overview paragraph has been clearly signposted using ‘overall’ and the key features introduced with the phrase ‘what stands out’.

A range of linking devices have been used successfully such as ‘in detail’, ‘as regards the city centre’, ‘regarding the south of the city’, ‘furthermore’ and ‘a further important development’.

Further details have been given in the main body paragraphs using vocabulary to describe location, e.g., ‘in the north-east’, ‘in the north of the city’ and ‘in the south-east of the city’.

A range of passive tenses have been used throughout the report, e.g., ‘these buildings have been erected’ and ‘bars and restaurants have also been opened’.

8. Common Errors and How to Avoid Them

Problem 1 Using the wrong tenses to describe changes in the maps.

Solution 1 Take a moment to understand what time periods you are comparing. If you are comparing a map from the past and a map from ‘today’, then the present perfect passive is useful as you are comparing changes from the past to the present. The present perfect passive would not be suitable when comparing two maps in the past. See Grammar for IELTS Writing Task 1 Map

Problem 2 Not describing the location or date of each map.

Solution 2 To improve your score in task achievement, you need to make it clear to the examiner what map you are referring to. Make sure to include the year of the map or ‘today’ for maps in the present. You should also use vocabulary to describe the location of the map feature you are referring to See Vocabulary for IELTS Maps

9. Quiz- Check Your Understanding

Take this short quiz to test your understanding of writing task 1 and maps:

• Four Answer: C. Four Exp × Explanation: You need to include an introduction, an overview, and two main body paragraphs.

Explanation: Although a map is not a very common IELTS writing task 1 question type, it is still important to be prepared in case it comes up in your IELTS exam.

Explanation: There are at least four types of IELTS map questions:

Two Maps- One in the Past and One in the Present

Two Maps- One in the Present and One in the Future

Two Maps- Two in the Past

Three Maps- Two in the Past and One in the Present

• The graphs show…

Explanation: A. ‘The graphs show…’ would only be appropriate when introducing a line or bar graph, not when writing about a map.

• In summary…
• Broadly, it can be seen that…
• To summarise, …

Explanation: All of the phrases above would be appropriate to use in an IELTS map overview.

Explanation: It is important to refer to dates to make it clear which map you are referring to throughout your report.

• Development

Explanation: Development and Expansion are nouns not verbs, but they can also be used to describe change.

• The modernisation of the bus station… Answer: A.
• the modernising of the bus station…
• modernisation of the bus station…
• The trees in the city had been cut down.

Explanation: A. is an example of the past perfect passive and C. is an example of the past simple passive.

• The trees in the city were cut down
• An interesting development is…
• One change has been…

Explanation: ‘In summary’ is a suitable linker for your overview paragraph, not a linking phrase for change.

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IELTS Writing Task 1 – Maps Example Essay 2

There are so many questions written each year, you may find you practice answering various questions on different topics. It is best practice to learn how to answer each one of the various types of writing task 1 questions , from bar charts, line graphs, maps, process etc.

If you would like to learn how to structure a map essay  please click the button below >

The pictures describe the proposal to convert Foster road between SE 84TH and 85TH Avenue.

Secondly, wider sidewalks would be implemented and a bicycle lane that will encourage the people to ride their bicycles rather than drive their vehicles. Lastly, they propose to plant several trees along the sides of the two streets that will provide shade for the people as well as offer cleaner air for all.

We hope you found this post useful in helping you to study for the IELTS Test . If you have any questions please let us know in the comments below or on the Facebook page.

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Ielts academic writing task 1 – lesson 1 – pie charts, you are studying overseas. you need to return to your country before the end of the semester for a family event : semi-formal letter [ielts general writing task 1 ], leave a comment cancel reply.

How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Map

Below, I’m going to walk you through the five steps to writing top-scored IELTS map essays:

• Master the basic vocabulary
• Understand the objectives of the task
• Fully describe the items on the map
• Describe the way elements of the map change (an IELTS Writing map is two part, showing how a place changes)
• Combine all of these skills into a full essay

A full walkthrough of Writing Task 1 maps, including a model essay, can be seen in Eliot’s video above. (You can watch the video now, or check it out later after reading this guide!)

IELTS Map Vocabulary

Before we look at the finer parts of how to write about an IELTS map, let’s think about the basic features of these maps and the IELTS map vocabulary used to describe them. In a nutshell, most IELTS maps will show a large location with buildings and other specific types of areas and locations. And typically, there will actually be two maps: a before and after map. With that in mind, there are three major important categories of vocabulary for describing such maps. For each of the three categories below, I’ve given a partial list of the kids of words you might use. This should give you a general idea, and I would encourage you to think up additional similar words on your own.

Words that Describe the Places

Adjectives:, words that describe the locations of places, compass words:.

• NOTE: Even if a compass does not appear on a map, you can assume that up is north, down is south, left is west, and right is east

DIRECTIONAL WORDS AND PREPOSITIONS:

• across from

Words that Describe Actions and Change

• constructed
• significant
• substantial

How to Write About an IELTS Map

How to write a map essay in IELTS involves a simple 5 step process:

1. Get Fluent in Basic IELTS Map Vocabulary

Develop your skills and knowledge for words that describe places, where places are located in relation to each other, and how places change in IELTS Writing maps. The lists I’ve provided are a great place to start.

2. Understand The Objectives

To tackle the challenge of describing a map for the exam, you must understand the objectives of the task at hand. Importantly, while 75% of your score represents your linguistic performance (coherence and cohesion, vocabulary, and grammar), 25% depends on your achievement of the task.

Earning a high band score for task 1 completion  is awarded for a “clear overview of main trends, differences, or stages.” If a clear overview cannot be achieved, you must minimally highlight the key features related to the prompt.

With this in mind, check out the image below:

If we want to consider key features or trends, it wouldn’t be enough to say that there are rides, recreational areas, and places where goods can be purchased. This doesn’t provide any overviews; it simply lists elements. Noting patterns and overall “trends” requires looking at the bigger picture, not isolated elements. An overview might point out instead that rides and tours tend to be farther from the parking area (i.e. the roller coaster, Ferris wheel, and magic castle), and that places where visitors can rest are closer to the theme park entrance (i.e. the food court and the playground/picnic area).

But you probably won’t be given an image and simply told, “describe it.” Instead, you will be given a specific task, and you will use the information in the image to complete it. For example, for the image above, a the full task is actually to describe the key features and differences between the current layout of the theme park, and the way the theme park will look after some planned future changes.

3. Go Beyond Naming

Ultimately, your task requires more than mere description. While nouns are obviously important (for naming various structures and natural elements and their basic positions on the map), task completion involves more than listing items. Describing trends, differences, or stages requires noting the relationship among elements and between images for comparison. Remember, there’s far more to IELTS Writing Task 1 vocabulary than just the names of things.

Imagine that your task is to examine before and after illustrations of a neighborhood over the course of a century.

For this task, it is clearly not enough to name what is new.  Don’t just describe what’s there, describe the relationship between what’s there.

For example, do not simply say “there is an office complex that wasn’t there before.” What relationship does this have to the big picture?  Remember, you must be able to provide an overview .

4. Describe the Changes Between the Two Maps

But, wait! Your overview shouldn’t just mention elements and their relationship to one another. How are the elements that you’re describing relevant to the prompt? What changes have been made?  We must connect these observations to the before and after context, reflecting change:

• The cannery along the northwest side of Oak Avenue was replaced by an office complex.
• The main road is connected to side roads that are closer to the lake and river. In the second map, the road that ended near the river now goes over the river via bridge.
• There is a petrol station on the other side of the road from the Yang Office Complex, where the elementary school had been on the older map.
• The main road currently has two shops, where previously there had been just one shop. These shops sit between the more recently constructed apartment buildings and an expanded set of homes.
• The smaller elementary school on the north side of Miller’s Lake was expanded and moved to the east side of the lake.

Now that’s more like it! Always remember that the IELTS Writing Task 1 map comparison between the old and new features is very important.

5. Put These Skills Together into a Full Essay

At this point, you’ve mastered the basic vocabulary, made your descriptions of the places on the map more detailed, and learned to describe change between two maps. Of course, these are just a few of many ways you could describe the map above. Your final step is to apply all this knowledge to map essays of your own creation. Try writing your own essay about the map above, or create an essay based on our full set of IELTS Writing Task 1 practice questions . That set includes a link to the full model IELTS Writing Task 2 essay based on the map above .

Final Takeaways For Using IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary

Main takeaways for using IELTS map vocabulary to compare and describe an IELTS map:

• Remember that the examiner is looking for an overview with main points, not an exhaustive list of elements. (Notice, for example that I didn’t precisely quantify housing units, describe exact comparative distances, or give the exact names of every location.)
• Think of the big picture. Rather than focusing on what’s there, think about how they’re related to the overall developments.
• Don’t forget your primary task – What changes have been made? What occurred, resulting in the differences you see?

Check out more helpful articles on the use of IELTS Writing Task 1 map vocabulary ( and this bonus IELTS Video! ) on preparing for the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1:

• How to Describe an IELTS Academic Pie Chart
• How to Describe an IELTS Academic Bar Chart
• How to Prepare for Academic IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles , his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube , Facebook , and Instagram , or connect with him via LinkedIn !

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5 responses to “How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Map”

THANKS I LOVE IT !

Perfect explanation about the format of task 1.

Dear Sir/Madam,

If we use passive voice for present change then do we have to use have been or has been. In the above explanation, can we use has been instead of have been?

“Have been” is for plural subjects, and “has been” is for singular subjects. Here’s one of the examples from above:

The western and central parts of the island have been developed into a resort.

“Western and central parts” is plural, so you use “have.” If we change this sentence so that the subject is singular, it becomes:

“The western part of the island has been developed into a resort.”

Since this example has only one part, we use the singular “has.” I hope that answers your question!

nicely explained

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IELTS with Mark Teacher

How to write ielts task 1 academic ‘map diagrams’.

There are 3 main types of diagrams in Writing Task 1 Academic: a.) Dynamic graphs   b.) Static graphs    c.) Diagrams   (Maps, Processes ) <–  we’re talking about maps

In this post I will show you how to write about  Map Diagrams. 

Already know how to write about Maps in IELTS? Send me your essays for in-depth feedback in 72 hours. 

Fortunately, the essay structure for every type of Task 1 is basically the same. 

Structure: Task 1 – Academic 4 paragraphs 1.) Summary / Introduction 2.) Overview 3.) Body 1 4.) Body 2

What are Map Diagrams?

Map Diagrams can be a few different things.

Map diagrams can be 1 or 2 images of indoor spaces, such as offices:

They can also be the exterior layout of a building, such as a shopping centre, road network, or even an entire town. 

Map diagrams always show  changes to a place. These can be finished changes.  You can see  finished changes in the tasks above and below:

However, IELTS Task 1 Writing map diagrams can be about potential future changes to a place. For example:

Another example of proposed future changes :

In this blog post we will look at how to approach all kinds of IELTS Writing Task 1 map diagrams, paragraph-by-paragraph.

1.) Map Diagram Introduction / Summary

The introduction paragraph in Task 1 only needs to be 1 or 2 sentences. Like all IELTS Writing Task 1 essays, your introduction should present the main purpose of the graph to the reader in your own words. This means paraphrasing the official IELTS diagram description if you can.

Obviously, a diagram is very different from a graph, so we will need quite different language. However, similarly to Dynamic Graphs,  map diagrams also feature changes .

You should change your grammar depending on if the changes have already happened , or if they are expected to happen in the future.

Here is a language table to help you make some summaries / introduction paragraphs in your own IELTS Task 1 Writing essays.

• The images illustrate + the changes that have been made to the floor plan of an office building between 2005 and the present. 
• The pair of diagrams depict + the differences between an office floor plan in 2005 and now.

• The two diagrams depict + the town centre of Islip now and the suggested – planned – proposed changes.
• The images illustrate + Islip town centre as it is now and the proposed / suggested – planned developments for it in the future.

You try! – Write an introduction sentence for this map diagram task. Use the table above to help you. 

The plans show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

• The images show … the layout of an airport now and the proposed changes to it after a development project. 
• The two diagrams depict … an airport site in the present and the suggest redevelopments to it in the future.

2.) Map Diagram Overview

The purpose of the overview paragraph is to give a short summary of the main features. In Map Diagrams, the main features can include: 

• New structures / areas
• Moved structures / areas
• Expanded structures / areas
• Reduced or removed structures / areas

There are two approaches you can take to Map Diagram overviews – or you can combine them together. You can describe the main features with adjectives (larger / smaller / more spacious / more developed) or you can generally describe the ​​ literal physical changes (number of rooms, names of new areas and structures. 

To describe generally I try to avoid giving specific locations (north / east etc.). I save these for Body 1 and Body 2. To generalise, I also give the group names of things and places, such as, ‘new housing’, ‘office equipment’, and ‘new transport facilities’, if I can.

Here are some examples of Map Diagram overviews using the tasks you saw earlier:

Main Features : 

• New: sofa and coffee table | coffee machine, water cooler 
• Bigger / Smaller: main room bigger, combined 
• Moved : armchairs, noticeboard 
• Removed: small office room on left gone  
• Other: top left room the same

a. Overall, we can see that the office now features fewer rooms and is more open-plan compared to the past . Some furniture has been rearranged, while some new office equipment and appliances have also been added.

b. Overall, we can see that the updated office plan contains a larger shared area with some new or rearranged furniture , while some other changes to the position of office equipment have been made.

Main Features: 

• New: dual carriageway | bus station, shopping centre, car park, new housing 
• Bigger / Smaller: x
• Removed: shops on north side of main road 
• Other: main road > pedestrian zone

a. Overall, we can see that a wide range of new developments are planned for Islip town centre, such as more extensive road networks and new housing projects . The suggested changes also include a pedestrianised area and improved traffic access via a bus station and a car park .

b. Overall, we can see that a considerable transformation has been planned for the town centre, including a new ring road and a pedestrian area , as well as a wide range of new transport facilities and even new housing.

You try! – Write an overview paragraph for this map diagram task. Use the table above to help you. The main features have been highlighted for you. 

Main Features:  

• New: gates +10 | sky train | ATM, car hire, cafe in arrivals, bag drop and shops in departures
• Bigger / Smaller: new doors +2 (4 total)
• Moved: cafe and check-in in departures
• Removed: walkway to gates
• Other: security, passport control customs all the same

a. Overall, we can see that … the plans for the airport’s redevelopment include significant expansion in the number of gates, passenger amenities and transport options.

My Maps eBook unlocks all the secrets to writing correct, advanced and high-band overviews. Click here to get this 19-page guide or click the picture. 

3.) Body Paragraphs

Next are the Body paragraphs of your Task 1 report. You can write 2 or 3 Body paragraphs. 

Body paragraphs describe the main features of the diagram in detail, including their location (either specifically or in relation to other structures or natural areas on the map). You can also write in detail about any old structures that have been replaced or moved. 

In terms of grammar, we are never told who has made or will make the changes on the diagram, so Map Diagrams often require the passive voice. 

Here is a language and grammar table you can use to write body paragraphs. Again, the grammar changes if you are talking about finished changes or future changes . 

Here are the Body 1 and Body 2 paragraphs of the example map diagrams from before, staring with the f inished changes map diagram : 

Introduction: The images illustrate the changes that have been made to the floor plan of an office building between 2005 and the present. 

Overview: Overall, we can see that the office now features fewer rooms and is more open-plan compared to the past. Some furniture has been rearranged, while some new office equipment and appliances have also been added. 

Body 1: (Biggest change) One of the key changes involves the removal of two small rooms on the western and north eastern sides of the office. It appears that the desks, chairs and cabinets have been removed from both small rooms, and now sit in the north eastern corner of the office to create a larger meeting area. 

Body 2: (Big change – last paragraph already long enough) As a result, the main room by the entrance has expanded into an open area with a new sofa and table, while the armchairs and noticeboard have been relocated from the eastern to the western side beside the new furniture. A new water cooler and coffee machine seem to service this new area as well. 

Body 3: (Exception / Contrast) Lastly, however, the corner office in the north-western corner of the office remains virtually unchanged from any of the rearrangements, remaining in its 2005 layout.

Here is the full example essay of the  future changes map diagram:

Introduction: The images illustrate Islip town centre as it is now and the proposed developments for it in the future.  

Overview: Overall, we can see that … a considerable transformation has been planned for the town centre, including a new ring road and a pedestrian area, as well as a wide range of new transport facilities and even new housing.

Body 1: Starting with the most obvious development, a new dual carriageway is planned to circle around the northern and southern edges of Islip town centre. This is seemingly intended to replace the main road running through the town centre, which in turn is set to be turned into a pedestrianised area.

Body 2: Focusing more on the city centre itself, a raft of new facilities are intended. While the current row of shops will remain, a new bus station, shopping centre and car park are going to be built on the north side of the old main road. In addition, new housing will also be built on the eastern side of town, with another housing project planned beside the park in the southeastern part of town.  

You try! – Write the body paragraphs for this map diagram task. Use the examples above to help you.

• New: gates +10 | sky train | ATM, car hire, cafe in arrivals, bag drop and shops in departures 
• Bigger / Smaller: new doors +2 (4 total) 
• Moved : cafe and check-in in departures 
• Removed: walkway to gates  
• Other: security, passport control customs all the same 

Introduction: The images show the layout of an airport now and the proposed changes to it after a development project. 

Overview: Overall, we can see that after its development, the airport will host considerably more gates, as well as more food and travel amenities for both arriving and departing passengers. 

Body 1: Beginning with the most notable proposal, the number of gates in the airport is set to receive a substantial increase, from 8 at present, to 18 after renovations are completed. To seemingly accommodate an expected increase in passengers, the walkway to the gates will be replaced by a new skytrain, and the amount of doors at the entrance will be doubled from 2 to 4 across departures and arrivals.  

Body 2: In addition, before security, customs and passport control, which will remain in the same place, the amount of facilities will increase significantly. This will include a new cafe in arrivals, as well as an ATM and a care hire kiosk. A bag drop is also set to be added at departures, with new shops planned for departing passengers after they have gone through security and passport control.

There you go! A high-band approach, several examples and a reliable framework for you to use in your own IELTS Writing test. 

Questions? Write them in a comments below. 

Want to show me what you’ve learnt from this guide? Send me your IELTS Writing Task 1 Essays for detailed feedback: 

If you still want more guidance and advice about IELTS Maps, I highly recommend my IELTS Maps eBook. It’s full of high-band grammar and vocabulary structures that you can’t find on my website, custom-made maps to help you tackle the most common types of maps in IELTS and much more! Click here or the picture to see more about this download PDF.

<– Back to Task 1 Academic example essays and lessons.

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Sample Writing: Describe a Map

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 9, 2017 | Model Essays | 1

It’s not often that you are asked to describe a map in the IELTS Writing Task 1, but it can happen. When it does, students often panic. It is an unfamiliar task for most IELTS candidates. You don’t often see it in the past papers or practice books.

However, it’s not actually that difficult, requires almost no specialist language, and can be practiced in a very short time.

Describing a map is actually pretty easy. You only really need to know the most basic geographic features:

Then you really must know the directions :

and perhaps some combination of them, such as “north-east” or “south-west,” too.

Beyond that, you are simply describing what you see.

Example question

The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Here is my first sample answer:

The illustration shows two images of the same island, before and after construction has taken place to build a tourist infrastructure. Prior to the construction of tourist facilities, the island was surrounded by sea on all sides, and had clusters of trees in the east and west. There was also a beach on the far west of the island. There were no buildings, and lots of open space across the land. Following construction work, the island looks very different. There are now many buildings throughout the west and central parts of the island, as well as a road and some paths leading to the accommodations. The accommodation buildings are distributed to the east and west of the reception, positioned in circle formations. There is a reception building right in the centre and a restaurant on the northern shore. To the south, there is a pier where boats can dock, and this is connected by road to the reception.

And here is another sample answer:

There are two maps showing the development of an island. The first map shows the island prior to its development, and the second shows the new tourist facilities that have been installed. Before the construction of the new tourist infrastructure, the island had no buildings. There were only trees and empty spaces. The island is surrounded on all sides by sea, and there was a beach on the far western shore. There have been various changes to the island, starting with the pier on the southern coast, which allows tourists to reach the island by boat. From there, they can follow a vehicle track to the reception, in the center of the island. Located slightly to the north of the reception is a restaurant, which sits on the northern coast. These are bordered on both sides by accommodation, in the form of huts. The huts are laid out in circular patterns and connected to the reception and restaurant by footpath. There is also a footpath now leading to the beach, which is suitable for swimming.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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The map question does not show any north and south directions. So, we cannot be sure which direction is north, east, west, south. Maybe we need to use top, bottom, left, right, etc. of the map.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Map Diagram – Lessons, Tips and Strategies

Updated On Dec 15, 2021

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Understanding IELTS Map Diagram questions

In the IELTS map questions, the maps will mostly be about the same location at different times, which could be past, present, or future. So, you’ll have to write and describe the required changes you see between the maps. Many of the test takers confuse between map diagram questions and process diagram questions. But both are very different from each other. However, the IELTS map questions are the one of the easiest questions to answer where the test taker needs to compare 2 or 3 maps. Very rarely, there might be a single map. Sometimes the information presented in the map diagram questions are not as difficult as it may seem. So, do not panic if you get a map diagram question in IELTS Writing Task 1. 

Strategies to Answer IELTS Map Diagram Questions

Follow the below-mentioned strategies while answering IELTS Writing Task 1: Map Diagram Questions. 

• Analyze the question and plan your answer accordingly 
• Recognize the key features in the map and summarize the information and make comparisons where ever necessary 
• Check whether the maps are from past, or present, or future situations. 
• Use synonyms and paraphrase the question for an effective introduction 
• Make sure to describe the general changes in the overview paragraph with appropriate words and correct verb tenses
• Include detailed information along with supporting points in the following paragraphs 
• Conclude the essay with a well-structured conclusion by summarizing the main points. 

Tips for Answering IELTS Map Diagram Questions

Below are some of the tips to consider while answering IELTS Writing Task 1: Map Diagram Questions 

• Go through the instructions thoroughly and then read the map diagram questions. 
• Make notes while analyzing the maps. You can circle, underline, number, or highlight the key points you think may be relevant. 
• Remember, the more you plan what you’re going to write, the easier it will be to write about it. 
• In this way, you may have some time to work on grammatical errors and spelling mistakes.
• Make sure your report doesn’t exceed more than 150 words; otherwise, it will be considered invalid. 
• Your report should be grammatically correct with the proper tenses.
• Maintain the coherence of your essay 
• Ensure that you complete your essay within 15 minutes, for which you need a lot of practice. 

Sample Practice

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

Plan A below shows a health centre in 2005.

Plan B shows the same place in the present day.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant.

Write atleast 150 words

Sample Answer

What is the scoring for writing task 1?

The writing task 1 makes up to 33% of the score. 

How long should the content be?

The content should be a minimum of 150 words. However, keep an eye on the instructions part if it differs from the basic requirement. 

How much time will I get to complete the map diagram?

You will get not more than 20 minutes to complete the map diagram. 

Here are the 10 examples for the IELTS Map Diagram:

Also check: 

• IELTS Writing Task 1 Bar chart
• IELTS Writing task 1 tips
• Tips to Improve IELTS Writing Skills
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS Writing Answer sheet
• IELTS map vocabulary
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors

Practice IELTS Writing Task 1 based on report types

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Ruben is a specialist and enthusiast in Linguistics. He speaks French, Spanish and German apart from English. He is a pronunciation expert and has even co-authored some books on the same. In the course of his research, he found the English language gap in non-native speakers. That’s when he decided to train students in English. He joined IELTSMaterial a few years ago and has written over 100+ articles. His articles are written in simple language but with strong attention to detail. His ideas are original and easy to understand. He has also researched on many tips that could help students score a band 9 with ease. These tips can be found across the website.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Map questions (Lessons and questions included )

In your IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 preparation, you'll need to practice a total of 7 IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 data types. In this post, we'll look at the Map questions in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions in detail and provide you 5 map practice questions.

Table Of Contents

How to tackle maps in ielts writing task 1 questions, vocabulary for ielts academic writing map questions.

• IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - 5 Map Questions.

Maps occasionally show up in IELTS academic writing task 1 and when they do, you will see two maps. Often one map is in the past map, while the other is in the present. You’ll also encounter scenarios where both maps are in the past. You might also get maps which show 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 2 maps, the essay structure for this question is simple:

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

We will use this essay structure for all map questions. Now, let’s join IELTS Instructor Tina below to learn how to approach IELTS Writing Task 1 Map questions.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Maps Lesson

• Question 1 from the video
• Question 2 from the video

The diagrams below show the coastal village of Seaville in 1980 and 2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

PRACTICE QUESTION 1 ON OUR IELTS APP

The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

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

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.

As the first map reveals , lslip town center now is relatively small. There is a main road from the west to the east with shops on both sides . The northern area is rarely countryside , while the southern area is filled with houses with a school at the end of the fork road in the southwest corner and a park in the southeast area .

In the future , the main road is expected to reform into a dual carriageway as a round containing all the new buildings. 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 new housing area. The shops along the south side of the street will remain, but it seems that the town’s park will be reduced in size so that more new houses can be built within the ring road.

PRACTICE QUESTION 2 ON OUR IELTS APP

When describing the location of something on a map, you can use the following phrases and vocabulary:

Now that you're familiar with the IELTS Writing Task 1 Map questions, it's time to practice. Check out the practice questions below.

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Map Questions

This section presents a list of common IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Map questions. If you want to prepare for the IELTS Writing Test, these questions are a must study.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Write at least 150 words.

The diagrams below show the coastal village of Seaville in 1980 and 2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. 

The maps below show the centre of a small town called Islip as it is now, and plans for its development. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. 

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How to Describe or Compare IELTS Task 1 Maps

This type of question is simple to answer because there is usually no data to analyse. Instead, you will compare two or three maps. This type of question is becoming more common in the IELTS Writing task 1 section, so it's important to know how to compare maps effectively.

To answer this type of question, follow these seven steps:

Analyse the question.

Identify the major features.

Use the four-paragraph structure.

Paraphrase the question.

Write an overview paragraph.

Write body paragraph 1.

Write body paragraph 2.

It's a good idea to use the 7-step strategy for all questions in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. This approach can give you a big advantage when you're writing. But if you want to get the band score you need in the IELTS Writing test, you might want to try our guaranteed Writing Feedback Service . A former IELTS examiner will give you detailed feedback and step by step guidance towards your target band score.

Also, you can check the high band guaranteed  eBooks loaded with quality-contents written by a team of former IELTS examiners. These resource-rich eBooks reveal band 9 secrets with powerful tips and strategies how to achieve a high band score. The team of the examiners conducted extensive research to compile in-depth discussions covering all aspects of every possible IELTS essay type in these eBooks .

Now, let's look at an example question and apply the 7-step strategy to prepare an answer.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The maps below show the changes in a town after the construction of a hydroelectric power dam.

Write at least 150 words.

Source: Cambridge English IELTS Past Papers

1. How to Analyse A Task 1 Map Question

To answer the task 1 question effectively, we must identify three important things: the main topic of the question, specific details that can help us give a more precise answer, and any actions we need to take.

The topic words tell us the general subject of the question, like "two maps" and "changes from 1990 to 2010."

Micro keywords help us focus on specific details that we need to address, such as "construction of a hydroelectric power dam."

Action words tell us what we need to do, such as "compare" or "describe."

Once we've identified these important elements of the question, we can then look for the main features in the diagrams.

After completing the question analysis part, we need to find the major features in the diagrams. Before that, if you want more extensive discussion on  question analysis, please check the relevant chapter in the  eBook.

2. How to Identify Main Features in IELTS Task 1 Maps

Identifying the main features in IELTS Task 1 Maps is a critical first step in crafting a high-scoring response. Here's how you can do it:

Read the Instructions Carefully: Before you start, read the title and any accompanying notes. These will often tell you what the main focus of the map is. They may give you the specific time periods the map is depicting, or the changes that have taken place.

Compare Maps (if Provided): Often, you'll be given two maps to compare—one from the past and one from the present. Look for the differences and similarities between the maps. These changes or lack of them are the main features.

Identify Significant Changes: This could be anything from the construction of new buildings, roads, or landmarks, to changes in natural features like rivers, mountains, or forests. Also note changes in the layout of the area, such as new housing developments or industrial areas.

Spot Trends: Look for overall trends in the maps. Is the town expanding? Are green areas disappearing? Are there new transport links? These trends are significant features to include in your report.

Note Absence of Change: If something remains unchanged over time, it could be significant, especially if surrounding areas have undergone substantial alterations.

Remember, you're not expected to describe every detail from the map. Focus on the main features, and organize your descriptions logically. You could either go area by area, or follow the sequence of changes. Also, remember to use a variety of language and keep your descriptions as precise as possible. With practice, you'll get better at identifying the main features in IELTS Task 1 Maps.

Let's go through the above-stated steps to identify the main features in our sample maps:

Disappeared              Appeared

Forest                         The Dam

Ancient structure         Towers

Rare plants                  Hotel

Animals                       Artificial lake

Villages                       Blocked river 

Integrated farmland     

River flow 

3. IELTS Task 1 Maps Writing Structure

We can complete the essay using only 10 sentences! Yes, it is that much simple! Take a look how we place the 10 sentences in our 4 paragraph essay structure. In the eBook , you will find powerful strategies on how to write each paragraph perfectly.

1. Paraphrasing the Question Sentence

Paraphrase the question statement using just one or two sentences. 

2. Overview Paragraph

Sentence 1: summary statement 1(preview of the essay without presenting data)

Sentence 2: summary statement 2 (more preview without presenting data)

3. Body Paragraph 1

Sentence 1: first major point

Sentence 2: second major point

Sentence 3: extension sentence 1 (compare/combine the major points stated above)

Sentence 4: extension sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

4. Body Paragraph 2

Sentence 1: exceptional feature 

Sentence 2: extension of the exceptional feature

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the whole essay, completely based on the discussion above, nothing new)

Let's develop the answer step by step applying the above-stated 4 paragraph essay structure.

4. Paraphrasing the Question Statement

This is the first paragraph of our IELTS Task 1 essay. This paragraph is all about paraphrasing the question statement. That means you will restate the question sentence in your language without changing the meaning of the original sentence. If you want to write this paragraph perfectly, you need to have a good grip on paraphrasing techniques. You can master the paraphrasing technique reading its intensive discussion in the  eBook.

This paragraph conveys an impression to the examiner how well you have understood the question.

Let's look at the actual question statement that we are using on this page:

" The maps below show the changes in a town after the construction of a hydroelectric power dam. "

Considering the periods mentioned in the maps, we can paraphrase the question statement as below:

"The contrast graphics visually depict the structural changes that occurred in a town over a 20-year period, from 1990 to 2010, as a result of the construction of a hydroelectric power dam."

That's it, pretty straightforward. Our first paragraph is complete, and you have already used 32 out of 150 words. Let's move to the next part of the essay, the Overview Paragraph.

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With this service, a former IELTS examiner will provide you with detailed feedback on your writing, including a band 9 sample answer. The examiner will guide you through each step, helping you improve your writing skills and reach your target score.

In addition, if you have any questions or concerns - we're available 24/7 to support you both via email ( [email protected] ) and through live chat here in the website.

Our tailored approach and expert feedback guarantee that you'll achieve a band score of 7 or higher with confidence. So why wait? Join our IELTS Essay Correction Service today and take the guaranteed step toward success on the IELTS exam.

5. Overview Paragraph

Overview is the second paragraph of our IELTS Writing Task 1 essay. This is the most important paragraph as well. Because without an overview paragraph in Task 1, you cannot expect more than band 5 in IELTS Writing section. Therefore, you need to take a very special care for this paragraph. You can check in-depth discussion in the eBook where a team of former IELTS examiners have revealed their guaranteed techniques on how to write a perfect overview paragraph.

Remember, an overview is a brief summary of the primary features you plan to describe in the diagram report. Therefore, you should avoid using specific data in this paragraph, rather just focus on the obvious features illustrated in maps/diagrams. This paragraph serves as an introduction to give readers a general idea of what your discussion is about.

Overview Paragraph Structure

Sentence 1 : summary statement 1(preview of the essay without presenting data)

Sentence 2 : summary statement 2 (more preview without presenting data)

Let's form the paragraph:

Sentence 1 ( S ummary Statement 1 )

" Overall, in a mere two decades, a tranquil riverbank community featuring unobstructed water flow and verdant forest underwent a transformation into a man-made concrete metropolis. "

Sentence 2 ( Summary Statement 2 )

" This transition culminated in the replacement of the town's pristine natural environment with an imposing hydroelectric power dam. "

Complete Overview Paragraph

"Overall, in a mere two decades, a tranquil riverbank community featuring unobstructed water flow and verdant forest underwent a transformation into a man-made concrete metropolis. This transition culminated in the replacement of the town's pristine natural environment with an imposing hydroelectric power dam."

Quite simple. Previously we wrote 32 words for the first paragraph (paraphrasing the question sentence). And just now we have added 43 more words to write the 2nd paragraph (Overview paragraph). That means we've completed the 1st two of our recommended 4 paragraph Task 1 report writing structure . Therefore, we're already halfway through. It's time to move to the Body Paragraph 1 and Body Paragraph 2,  respectively.

6. Body Paragraph 1

In the overview paragraph, we have given just a general statement of significant features, we haven't discussed any detail. Now, it's time to explain them in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraph 1 Str ucture

We hope you can remember our Body Paragraph 1 structure:

Sentence 1 : f irst major point

Sentence 2 : s econd major point

Sentence 3 : extension  sentence 1 (compare/combine the  major points stated above)

Sentence 4 : extension  sentence 2 (extension of the previous sentence, or adding an exceptional feature).

Let's form the paragraph following the above-stated structure:

Sentence 1( First Major Point )

" The town in 1990 boasted a pristine river flowing through it, surrounded by ancient structures and verdant foliage. "

Sentence 2( Second Major Point )

" However, by 2010, the installation of a significant hydroelectric dam disrupted the river's flow and decimated the town's natural landscape, replaced by artificial concrete structures. "

Sentence 3( Extension Sentence 1 )

" On either side of the river, the unique creatures, exotic flora, and natural forest had vanished, replaced by imposing electric towers. "

Sentence 4( Extension Sentence 2 )

" This transformation marked a stark departure from the town's idyllic past. "

Complete Body Paragraph 1

"The town in 1990 boasted a pristine river flowing through it, surrounded by ancient structures and verdant foliage. However, by 2010, the installation of a significant hydroelectric dam disrupted the river's flow and decimated the town's natural landscape, replaced by artificial concrete structures. On either side of the river, the unique creatures, exotic flora, and natural forest had vanished, replaced by imposing electric towers. This transformation marked a stark departure from the town's idyllic past."

We have just added 70 more words to write the first body paragraph. That means we have already finished 75% of our IELTS Task 1 essay! See how simple it is! We are just describing the major features that are very obvious in the pictures.

We've written 32 for the first, 43 for the second and 75 words for the third paragraph. That means we have already used 150 words out of total 150 for an IELTS Task 1 essay question.

However, don't panic about the 150 word threshold, as long as you are not writing below 150. For the sake of a clear discussion, it is absolutely okay to write somewhere near 200 words.

So, let's move to the final paragraph, and wrap up the major contrast given in the maps.

7. Body Paragraph 2

Body paragraph 2 is the final paragraph of our suggested structure for a Task 1 Writing. This is the easiest paragraph in the whole description, because here we're simply going to state other features briefly in the first sentence, add a comparison statement in the second sentence, and then write the final sentence wrapping up the described major features. So, let's apply our structure for the second body paragraph:

Body Paragraph 2 Structure

Sentence 3: final sentence (wrapping-up the stated major points)

Sentence 1(Exceptional Feature)

"By 2010, an artificial lake and towering hotel had replaced the once-integrated farmland and river."

Sentence 2(Extension of the Exceptional Feature) 

"Only the mountains and some villages managed to evade this sweeping transformation."

Sentence 3(Final Sentence)

"The shift from natural forest, farmland, and river to a concrete, man-made town stands as a stark and striking contrast."

Complete Body Paragraph 2

"By 2010, an artificial lake and towering hotel had replaced the once-integrated farmland and river. Only the mountains and some villages managed to evade this sweeping transformation. The shift from natural forest, farmland, and river to a concrete, man-made town stands as a stark and striking contrast."

We've added 60 more words to the previous 138, and just finished the final part of our 4 paragraph structure. That means, we have completed the Task 1 response with 198 words, which is absolutely fine. In fact, you should write somewhere between 150 and 200 words.

To sum up, mastering the art of writing an IELTS Task 1 Maps Band 9 report is not an overnight task. It requires consistent practice, a clear understanding of the structure, and an ability to interpret geographical data effectively. When you combine these elements with a strong command of language and a clear understanding of the assessment criteria, you set yourself up for success.

Remember, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and task achievement are the fundamental components the examiners look for. So, strive to deliver a well-structured report with relevant information, appropriate vocabulary, varied sentence structures, and accurate grammar.

If you've found our tips on how to write an IELTS Task 1 Maps Band 9 report helpful, we encourage you to explore further and practise with real IELTS map samples. Let your progress be guided by feedback and self-evaluation, honing your skills one map at a time. Crafting high-band IELTS map reports can open doors to studying or working abroad, so don't underestimate the value of acing this task.

Keep your eyes on the prize, and with consistent effort, you can overcome the challenge. You're one step closer to achieving that coveted Band 9 score, and we believe that with the right preparation, you will conquer the IELTS map task effectively and successfully.

Don't forget to check the following resources:

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Check the detailed discussion on all the question types

Pie Chart                  Bar Chart

Line Graph                Map

Table Chart               Process Diagram

Multiple Graphs

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IELTS Map Essay Decoded

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Updated on 13 April, 2023

Mrinal Mandal

Study abroad expert.

We understand you may not love looking at maps, especially in today’s day and age! However, they are unavoidable if you plan to clear the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS ) test. Fret not!  IELTS map  questions are amongst the easiest in the test. You do not have to analyze any numbers; you only have to compare some maps. The maps show an area or location at different points of time, i.e., present, past, or even future developments. You have to write about the changes within these maps, explaining them in detail. 

There are a few steps for writing an  IELTS task 1 map  essay to help you score high. They include: 

• Question evaluation
• Identifying key aspects
• Writing a crisp introduction
• Coming up with the overview
• Writing the paragraphs with all vital details 

The first two steps are important in this scenario. Never underestimate the importance of proper planning before starting your essay. You will understand the reasons after going through the tips below.

Table of Contents

Ielts map essay- ideal structure.

• First Step- Question Evaluation

Second Step- Identifying the Key Aspects

Download e-books for ielts preparation.

• The Introduction:
• The Overview:
• Writing Para 3

Writing Para 4

Putting it all together, popular study abroad destinations.

The  IELTS writing task 1 map  essay should have this structure: 

• Introduction- First Paragraph
• Overview- Second Paragraph
• Main Feature 1- Third Paragraph
• Main Feature 2- Fourth Paragraph

A Sample Question & Tip to Crack the Map Essay

Suppose there is a question which states: 

The maps below display the village of Burlington in the years 1950 and 2020. 

Summarize the information through selection and reporting of key features, and make comparisons wherever necessary . 

First Step- Question Evaluation 

The format of the question is unchanged for Academic Task 1. You should first analyze the question carefully. Every question contains the first sentence that describes the map you are viewing. Then there are the instructions for you and the final map or chart. 

The second sentence is where you learn what you have to do. In this case, you will have to choose the main features of the maps, report or write about them and compare the main features if required. All tasks revolve around the map’s key features. You need not write about or focus on every little thing. You only have to choose 2-3 central elements, and you will get sufficient writing material. 

First, you should begin with the initial map that dates back to 1950. Look at the past and then look at the present (2020) map for identifying changes. Here are some things that you can check out: 

• What are the timelines - The map shows the  Burlington  village of 1950 and again in 2020. Hence, it indicates the past and present. You will thus know that you should use the past tense in the essay without using any future tenses. 
• Main differences - What are the features on the map from 1950 that have completely vanished? What are the new additions or features replacing these features in the 2020 map? Are there any other new additions to the map of 2020? 
• Similarities - What are the features of both maps which are identical even after all these years? There will always be some features that stay the same.
• Direction -related terms- You can consider using words like  south ,  north ,  west  , and  east  (but obviously) along with  north-east ,  south-east ,  north-west , and  south-west  amongst other variations. 

You can thus find several features that have vanished like older dispensaries, shops, farmland, and even the church building, which has grown, and the big central square building has turned into a home for seniors.

Many maps have numerous changes and that too of a complex nature. Remember that you will not have time to write about all the changes that you see. Select 2-3 main changes before getting started! Now, suppose that you identify four of the main changes for our essay. These can be the following: 

• The farmland has vanished, and construction has taken place. 
• The big central square house has become a home for seniors. 
• The shops and dispensaries have disappeared. 
• The church building has expanded.

These features will be the foundation for your IELTS map essay in at least 150 words. You will get only 20 minutes to complete Task 1. Remember that you cannot include all the details. It is possible to talk about important things while staying crisp and concise. 

Recommended Reads:

Writing Your Essay 

The structure that you will follow, as mentioned, is the following: 

• Introduction- Para 1
• Overview- Para 2
• One main feature- Para 3
• Another feature- Para 4 

For the essay topic that you are doing now, you can write about two features in Para 3 and two in Para 4. 

The Introduction: 

The introduction will only need a simple paraphrasing of the question, i.e. stating the same premise differently. You can make use of synonyms and also change the structure of the main sentences. 

The original question was-  The maps below display the village of Burlington in the years 1950 and 2020. 

For instance, you can write your introduction in this manner- 

These two maps illustrate how the Burlington village, nestled on the foothills of the Enyan Mountains, transformed over 70 years from 1950 to 2020. 

And you are done writing your introduction! 

The Overview: 

The second paragraph will talk about the general transformations that you witness. The concrete details are suitable for the upcoming paras. Just keep it simple without any elaborate words or terms. 

A sample overview can be the following- 

The village developed rapidly over 70 years, with growing urbanization, and gradually transformed to a predominantly residential and commercial zone from a rural settlement earlier. 

Try and keep the overview to a single sentence. See, it is that simple! 

Writing Para 3 

Now we get down to the actual writing bit since the third and fourth paragraphs are where you write in more detail. The third paragraph should have ample proof of the first two changes that you noticed. 

What were the first two changes listed earlier? They are the total disappearance of farmland and construction over it and a home for seniors in place of the big house in the central square. 

Here is an example that you can follow- 

The drastic change of the village in 2020 is visible from the transformation of rural farmlands into urban housing settlements. Periodic construction saw the development of homes, roads, and other public infrastructure over the same. Community needs also led to the transformation of a large residential property in the central square. It is now a home for senior citizens without kith and kin. 

Similarly, you have to recap the third and fourth things that you noticed. These are the following: 

• Vanishing dispensaries and shops
• Expansion of the church building 

Here is an illustrative example- 

While the village had at least four dispensaries and ten shops earlier, they vanished by 2020. New residential houses stand in place of these establishments, which existed in 1950. The church building still stands at the intersection of the West and North streets in the village. From its original size in 1950, it has been extended by almost two times in 2020, covering the entire south-eastern portion, which was empty land earlier. It is another landmark for the village. 

Now that the steps are complete, how will it look like one single essay? Here’s finding out- 

Essay: 

Well, this sample essay has exceeded the word limit of 150 and lists the main changes without going over the top. It is only a sample, and you will find plenty of other examples online. Remember to follow the points mentioned above and practice as much as you can ahead of appearing for the IELTS test.

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Academic test - sample test questions

Ielts academic is your key to studying where you want to go., jump to section.

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Preparing for your IELTS Academic test

We want you to do well in your test. To help you get ready, here are some sample tests for the Academic test.

Listening and Speaking tests are the same for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training, but the Reading and Writing tests are different.

With these official practice materials you can:

• get used to the test format
• experience the types of tasks involved
• test yourself under timed conditions
• review your answers and compare them with model answers.

IELTS Academic - paper sample tests

Listening (30 minutes) .

The Listening test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training and consists of four recorded monologues and conversations. The following IELTS Listening sample tasks are to be used with the Answer Sheet and MP3 audio files and/or transcripts. Each answer sheet indicates which recording to listen to, or if a transcript is provided.

Listening sample tasks

• Listening sample tasks (PDF 777 KB)  
• Listening answer sheet (PDF 1 MB)  

Find out more about the Listening test

Academic Reading (60 minutes)

Texts for the Academic Reading test are taken from books, journals, magazines and newspapers.

A variety of tasks is used, including: multiple-choice questions, identifying information, identifying writer’s views/claims, matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, sentence completion, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

Academic Reading sample tasks

• Academic Reading sample tasks (PDF 934 KB)
• Academic Reading answer sheet (PDF 490 KB)

Find out more about the Academic Reading test

Academic Writing (60 minutes) 

The Academic Writing test consists of two writing tasks of 150 words and 250 words. In Task 1, you are asked to describe some visual information (graph/table/chart/diagram). You need to write 150 words in about 20 minutes. In Task 2 you are presented with a point of view or argument or problem. You need to write your response in 250 words in about 40 minutes.

Academic Writing sample tasks

• Academic Writing sample tasks (PDF 1 MB)

Find out more about the Academic Writing test

Speaking (11–14 minutes)

In the Speaking test, you have a discussion with a certified examiner. It is interactive and as close to a real-life situation as a test can get. There are three parts to the test and each part fulfils a specific function in terms of interaction pattern, task input and test taker output. In Part 1, you answer questions about yourself and your family. In Part 2, you speak about a topic. In Part 3, you have a longer discussion on the topic. The Speaking test is the same for both IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training. Each of the three parts is designed to test a different aspect of your communication ability.

Speaking sample tasks

• Speaking sample tasks (PDF 403 KB)  

Find out more about the Speaking test 

IELTS Academic - computer sample tests

Listening (30 minutes).

The Listening question types for IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. 

A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, matching, plan/map/diagram labelling, form completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, summary completion, sentence completion, short-answer questions.

Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which a student called Judy is discussing her research with her tutor and fellow students.

For each question, click on the correct answer.

• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Answer Key (PDF 24 KB)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Recording Transcript (PDF 84 KB)

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing a guide to a library.

For each question, click on the correct answers.

• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer)
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Answer Key (PDF 23 KB) 
• Listening Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Recording Transcript (PDF 78 KB)

Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling (Type A)

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a tour guide describes different places in a US town.

For each question, click on the correct space in the table.

• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling
• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Labelling Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Listening Sample task Plan/Map/Diagram Recording Transcript (PDF 75 KB)

Listening Sample task Note Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 1 recording in which two people are discussing second-hand furniture.

For each question, write your answer in the gap.

• Listening Sample task Note Completion
• Listening Sample task Note Completion Answer Key (PDF 22 KB)
• Listening Sample task Note Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 92 KB)

Listening Sample task Table Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 4 recording in which a university lecturer is giving a talk about research into ‘learner persistence’.

• Listening Sample task Table Completion
• Listening Sample task Table Completion Answer Key (PDF 26 KB)
• Listening Sample task Table Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 31 KB)

Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two biology students are comparing their research on evidence of life on Earth and other planets.

For each question, click on the correct answer and move it into the gap.

• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion
• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion Answer Key (PDF 92 KB)
• Listening Sample task Flow-chart Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 40 KB)

Listening Sample task Sentence Completion

You will hear an extract from a Part 3 recording in which two friends are discussing studying with the Open University.

• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion
• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion Answer Key (PDF 30 KB)
• Listening Sample task Sentence Completion Recording Transcript (PDF 37 KB)
• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions

You will hear an extract from Part 2 of the test in which a representative from a clothing company is giving a talk to high school students.

• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions Answer Key (PDF 22 KB)
• Listening Sample task Short Answer Questions Recording Transcript (PDF 78 KB)

The Academic Reading question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test. A variety of tasks is used including: multiple choice, identifying information (True/False/Not Given), identifying a writer’s views/claims (Yes/No/Not Given), matching information, matching headings, matching features, matching sentence endings, summary completion, note completion, table completion, flow-chart completion, diagram label completion, short-answer questions.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer)

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about older people in the workforce.

Click on the correct answer.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (one answer) Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer)

Click on the correct answers.

• Academic Reading Sample task Multiple Choice (more than one answer) Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given)

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about the scientist Marie Curie.

• Academic Reading Sample task Identifying Information (True/False/Not Given) Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Note Completion
• Academic Reading Sample task Note Completion Answer Key (PDF 21 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Table Completion

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about dung beetles.

• Academic Reading Sample task Table Completion Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Features

You will read an extract from a Part 1 text about the development of rockets.

• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Features Answer Key (PDF 107 KB)

Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about the ‘Plain English’ movement, which promotes the use of clear English.

• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text)
• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting words from the text) Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)

Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about language.

• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases)
• Academic Reading Sample task Summary Completion (selecting from a list of words or phrases) Answer Key (PDF 18 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Sentence Completion

You will read a Part 2 text which discusses whether birds evolved from dinosaurs.

• Academic Reading Sample task Sentence Completion Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)
• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Sentence Endings

You will read an extract from a Part 3 text about the scientific community in London in the 1700s.

• Academic Reading Sample task Matching Sentence Endings Answer Key (PDF 17 KB)

Academic Writing (60 minutes)

The Academic Writing question types in IELTS on computer are the same as in the IELTS on paper test.

In Part 1, you are presented with a graph, table, chart or diagram and are asked to describe, summarise or explain the information in your own words. You may be asked to describe and explain data, describe the stages of a process, how something works or describe an object or event. In Part 2, you are asked to write an essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem.

Academic Writing Sample tasks

• Academic Writing Sample task Part 1
• Academic Writing Sample task Part 2
• Responses to Sample Part 2 with band scores and examiner comments (PDF 492 KB)

IELTS on computer practice experience

The practice experience will show you how everything will look on your computer ahead of the test day. As these are practice tests, they are not timed. There are some variations from the live tests, including the timer, highlighting, and notes functions performing differently.

In this Listening test sample , you will hear four different recordings.

You will hear each recording ONCE only.

The test is in four parts, with 40 questions in total.

This Academic Reading sample will show you three texts to read.

The test is in three parts, with 40 questions in total.

This Academic Writing sample consists of two writing tasks.

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IELTS Writing Task 2: Most popular 50+ Essay Topics of 2024

• Updated On May 28, 2024
• Published In IELTS Preparation 💻

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) writing section is a 1-hour test that comprises two questions: task 1 and task 2, which assess your vocabulary, grammar, word count, collocations, and ability to construct complex sentences with moderation and without repetition. 

Table of Contents

To begin, it is pivotal to understand that the IELTS essay topics vary for IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training Tasks. In Task 1 of IELTS Academic, you must write a report on a graph, diagram or chart, whereas, for IELTS General Training Task 1, you must write a letter. Task 2 of the General and Academic modules is essay writing; while the topics for essays in both modules may differ, the essay writing strategy remains the same. 

Examiners use the following criteria to calculate Academic IELTS Writing Task 1 and Task 2 scores: Task Achievement, Task Response, Coherence, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Lexical Resource.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 for Academic

The IELTS Academic Writing section consists of two tasks that must be completed in one hour: 

Writing Task 1

In Task 1, you are assigned a graph, visual information, table or chart, which you are required to describe in your own words. You must write a report in 150 words, accurately describing what the information in the graph or picture represents. The IELTS writing task 1 marking criteria accounts for 33% of the total IELTS writing evaluation score, and you should try to finish this part in 20 minutes or less because IELTS writing task 2 is more difficult and will take at least 40 minutes to complete.

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Writing Task 2

 IELTS writing task 2 marking criteria has a 66% weightage, where you must complete a 250-word essay in 40 minutes. Candidates must respond to a problem, a point of view, or an argument in this task, with a curated response. The essay’s content should be written with perfect grammar and focused solely on the topic. As task 2 holds more weight, candidates should devote significant time to it and ensure a properly curated essay for a good band score. 

Let us now review some fundamentals of IELTS essay structure that you can apply to this task. A typical writing piece includes an introduction, the main body consisting of a few paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you should write the context of your issue and a thesis statement representing the main idea of your text.

The central section of your essay will discuss various facts and arguments that support or oppose the thesis statement. Finally, restate the thesis statement, bolstering it with new details from the main body. 

Here’s a list of the latest IELTS essay topics and sample questions to help you efficiently prepare for task 2 of the IELTS Writing section.

Latest IELTS Essay Topics for 202 4

IELTS essay writing topics are usually based on current events and world affairs. You will find a series of essay writing topics for IELTS in the following listicles. Also, one of the most effective ways to prepare for answering essays in the Writing section of IELTS is to work on the sample essay questions. The topic categories and essay writing samples to help students looking for the latest IELTS essay topics are stated below:

Environment

• Environmental Crisis: One of the most common topics in IELTS is the environment essay IELTS band 9. Many students, however, do not see the need to prepare for this because it is one of the most specific topics resulting in a loss of marks. 

Click here for the Environmental Crisis essay sample and answers for practice.

• Global Warming: It is common for IELTS speaking and writing sections to include questions about broad discussion topics, such as climate change, the greenhouse effect, global warming, and deforestation.

Click here for the Global Warming essay format, sample and answers for practice.

• Sustainable Energy: If you are unfamiliar with the framework and concepts of an essay, it can be a daunting task. All of the sentences must be related and formed in such a way that they provide a clear view and information. You may be penalised if you veer off-topic while writing your essay. Sustainable energy and nuclear power topics are debated topics; hence practising them will give you an edge over your peers. 

Click here for the Sustainable Energy essay structure, sample and answers for practice.

• Fossil Fuels: The IELTS essay topics for writing task 2 are usually based on common themes frequently discussed in the average aspirant’s daily life. One such theme is the use of renewable energy sources in place of nonrenewable resources such as fossil fuels.

Click here for the Fossil Fuels essay sample and answers for practice.

Personality

• Importance of First Impression:  IELTS examiners have a short attention span and read hundreds of essays daily. Hence, it is pivotal for you to get the start right and make a good first impression in your First Impression is Important IELTS essay.

Click here for the Personality essay sample and answers for practice.

• Hobbies: ‘Hobbies’ is a common theme in both the IELTS Writing Task 2 and the Speaking section. This is a simple, mark-fetching topic with few challenges for students taking the exam.

Click here for the Hobbies essay sample and answers for practice.

• Fashion: Fashion is a recurring topic with global themes and one of the best topics to practise your public speaking skills.

Click here for the Fashion essay sample and answers for practice.

• Importance of Leisure Activities and School Values: The IELTS Essay on Education is one of the most challenging tasks, with unpredictable questions in the exam. These education essay topics, like the Importance of leisure activities, are opinion-driven and assess students’ ability to express their knowledge and skills thoughtfully.

Click here for the Education essay sample and answers for practice.

• Government and Society: As an IELTS exam candidate, you should review as many common topics for Writing Task 2 as possible. One such common IELTS test theme is government and society, with which you should be well-acquainted. 

Click here for the Government and Society essay sample and answers for practice.

• Ideal Society: Candidates should practise sample questions and answers for the Ideal Society IELTS essay to gain a firm grasp on writing and vocabulary and improve their overall band score.

Click here for the Ideal So c iety essay sample and answers for practice.

• Social Media: Social media essays are a popular topic in IELTS writing task 2. For a social media IELTS essay band 9 and similar topics, the most straightforward approach is maintaining the proper word count and being aware of various approaches to the topic.

Click here for the Social Media essay sample and answers for practice.

Business & Global Consumerism

• International Trade: Over the years, one of the topics covered in the IELTS exam has been global business. Your answer for such topics should contain everything; your responses, solutions, arguments, reasons, opinions, and evidence are critical to answering the question.

Click here for the International Trade essay sample and answers for practice.

• Management and Leadership: In any organisation, leadership and management are critical roles. Your essay for such topics should always be pertinent to the question.

Click here for the Management and Leadership essay sample and answers for practice.

• Foreign Languages: Foreign languages and language barriers are recurring themes in the IELTS writing task 2. Express your own opinions on such topics. 

Click here for the Culture essay sample and answers for practice.

• Sports and children: Sport is a recurring theme, and the essay content should not deviate from the main points at any point in the essay.

Click here for the Sports essay sample and answers for practice.

• Covid impact: The topics of IELTS Writing task 2 are usually drawn from current events worldwide, making Covid-19 an anticipated topic. 

Click here for the Covid 19 essay sample and answers for practice.

• Obesity: Overweight essays are among the most common topics in IELTS writing task 2. Obesity, recent trends in health among children and adults, and other similar topics may also be discussed in relation to overweight.

Click here for the Health essay sample and answers for practice.

Types of IELTS Essays

IELTS essay writing topics are usually classified under various sections. You can expect essays in the IELTS exam from any of the following types:

1. Opinion Essays 

In this essay category, you must discuss your opinion on the given topic. Naturally, the best way to score high in such essays is to have prior knowledge of common topics that are popular in the IELTS exam. 

Sample Questions:

• Most teenagers today own a smartphone. Provide your opinion to discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
• Crime novels and TV series have become quite popular in recent years. What is your opinion about these crime dramas?
• Developing nations often require international assistance. Many believe that this assistance should be monetary, while some think practical help and advice would be more beneficial. Discuss both these views along with your opinion.
• Many consider automobiles to be the biggest source of pollution in urban areas, while some believe industries are responsible for it. Explain both views and provide your opinion.
• Many people believe individuals involved with creative arts should be financially supported by the government. Some others believe they should find separate resources. Discuss each of the views and give your opinion.
• Some believe success in life comes from hard work, dedication, and motivation. While many believe success depends on other important factors like money and appearance. Discuss both views and provide your opinion. 
• Many think that governments should fund programs in search of life on other planets. However, others believe governments should focus on unresolved issues on the planet. Provide your opinion and discuss both views.

You can also check out this detailed guide on Opinion Essays to learn the appropriate structure for maximum scores!

2. Discussion Essays

In the case of discussion essays, the candidates need to put forward an explanation for or against any given topic. Such essays are the most common to appear in the IELTS exam. 

Sample Questions: 

• Many believe living in big cities comes with more advantages than residing in the countryside. Do you agree or disagree with this?
• The shopping habits of people depend more on their age group than on any other factors. Do you agree or disagree with this? 
• More and more children and minors are becoming overweight in developed nations. This is a major problem for most wealthy countries. Explain the causes and impacts of this issue.
• The internet is a great invention that brings a host of advantages for the world population. However, there are several issues in terms of security and control of personal data. Do you agree or disagree with this?
• Advertising prevents originality in people and makes them look the same and do the same. Do you agree or disagree with this?
• Parents today often tend to organise extra classes on weekends or even after school. Do you believe this is at all useful? Or do you think the education provided in school is sufficient?
• Some people believe that capital punishment should be done away with. Do you agree or disagree with this?

We have covered valuable tips & tricks to attempt Discussion Essays that can come in handy in your exam.

3. Solution Essays

For solution essays, you will have to provide a solution to a particular issue. At times, questions might be provided as to why a specific issue has occurred, and candidates have to provide their opinion on the answer.

• The massive movement of people from agricultural areas to cities in search of employment can lead to serious problems in both places. What are the problems, and how can these be solved? 

Check out our sample question and answer on Solution Essays for a more thorough explanation.

Advantage or Disadvantage Essays

In this type of essay, students have to write about a particular topic’s positive and negative sides. Such essays test your argument construction skills and how well you can use English to communicate your views as clearly and coherently as possible. 

• International tourism has greatly benefited many places. However, there have been major concerns about its impact on the local environment and inhabitants. Do the negative impacts of international tourism outweigh the benefits?
• Some countries have recently passed laws to restrict the daily working hours of employees. Explain whether this will have a positive or negative impact.
• More and more people today are visiting extreme places such as Antarctica or the Sahara desert. What are the advantages or disadvantages of such travels?
• Social media is gradually replacing in-person face-to-face contact with many people worldwide. Do the benefits of social media outweigh the disadvantages? 

Use the sample questions from the Advantage/Disadvantage Essay type to practise your writing skills.

Direct Question Essays

For this type of essay, the topics will be provided as direct questions, which students have to answer based on their experiences and thoughts.

• Shopping used to be a routine domestic task in the past. However, today, it has become more of a hobby. Is this a positive trend?
• You can get more information on these rare essay-type questions on our  Direct question essay structure blog.

Preparation Tips for IELTS Writing Task 2

Many students believe they don’t need to prepare much because they speak English reasonably well. Well, the IELTS exam is not that easy. In fact, even native English speakers may find the test difficult. As a result, candidates should prepare for this section rigorously and methodically and start early preparation.

• Begin your IELTS preparations at least 6 months before your intended test date , and ensure to devote some time daily to all 4 sections.
• Choose writing topics for both tasks, especially writing task 2, and try to write about them daily. Time yourself; remember that you must complete both tasks in one hour.
•  Spend significant time learning new vocabulary and brushing up on your grammatical skills. Following that is structured thinking, allowing you to convey your ideas logically. While writing, pay close attention to lucidity, logic, and clarity.
• You should expand your ideas because the IELTS writing task 2 could cover any topic. Go through all the resources like magazines, books, and online materials to expand your knowledge and vocabulary. Additionally, practice as many mock tests as possible. 

As mentioned above it’s only practice that can get you the desire scores. But along with it you also need the best preparation materials and guidance. And the best solution we suggest is to register for the LeapScholar IELTS courses .

Along with live classes from the best IELTS tutors, you’ll also have access to mock tests, speaking and writing evaluations and comprehensive study materials. As a reward you’ll also receive a course completion certificate.

How to Answer Task 2 Essays in IELTS Writing Section?

Students can employ the following steps to successfully enhance their ability to answer essays in the Writing section:

Step 1: Read and Understand the Question

The first step to nailing task 2 essays is to read and understand the question carefully. Most of the time, candidates answer the question without understanding what it demands. Candidates should carefully analyse the question, identify the question type and try to identify the keywords. Finally, they should clearly understand the instructions and then attempt to answer.

Step 2: Plan the Answer

Once students have understood the question, they need to plan the structure of the answer. This will allow candidates to organise their ideas and produce a clear and coherent response. 

Step 3: Write a Solid Introduction

The introduction of the essay should give an idea of what the essay is all about. Make sure to write an appropriate introduction conveying the gist of the essay.

Step 4: Carefully Curate the Main Body

The main body is the essential part of the essay, where you must provide the necessary details. State your points accordingly and substantiate them with explanations, examples, and other relevant data. Once done, you need to give a proper conclusion.

Tips for IELTS Writing Task 2

You can use the following tips to ace their IELTS Writing test:

Although IELTS is a difficult test to master, one can achieve a good score with systematic and consistent preparation. If you require assistance in acing your IELTS Writing Task 1 and 2, our Leap Scholar experts will provide the necessary guidance, tips, and tricks to help you pass your IELTS test with flying colours. If you are planning to prepare for the essay task in the Writing section, you can go through this comprehensive guide to get an idea about the latest IELTS essay topics. You can prepare for the essay task accordingly with the help of sample essay topics and questions provided in the above sections. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q. how can you score well in ielts writing task 2.

Ans. IELTS Writing Task 2 mainly has four performance descriptors: Task Response, Cohesion & Coherence , Lexical Resource, and finally Grammatical range and accuracy. The scoring happens on four parameters, so follow these and prepare with the correct books and practice questions.

Q. What are the most popular questions asked in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Ans. The different types of questions in IELTS Writing Task 2 include: Problem/ Causes questions, Opinion questions, Advantage/ Disadvantage questions, Discussion of views, etc.

Q. What are the main themes on which IELTS Writing Task 2 questions are based on?

Ans. Some of the broad themes include Environment, Food, Health, Art, Business, Communication, Crime & Punishment and more. Ideas and topics are taken under these broad themes for question framing.

Q. Is it necessary to use complex words in IELTS Writing section?

Ans. Having a good vocabulary is an added advantage. However, difficult words should not be forcefully put in sentences. Your sentences should be organic and should fit the meaning and the context of your essays.

 Q. How to develop ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 2024?

 Ans. The easiest ways to generate ideas for IELTS Writing Task 2 are by analysing model essays, finding ideas on google, talking to experts, watching movies, asking yourself some questions about the topic, generating main ideas from specific examples.

Q. How many mistakes are acceptable in IELTS Writing Task 2?

Ans. Making one or two mistakes is overlooked by the examiner if the overall essay is good. However, making more mistakes than that can lead to lower IELTS band score.

Q. What are the basic topics in IELTS writing task 2?

Ans. Some of the common IELTS topics for Writing Task 2 are  Art, Environment, Education, Health, Jobs and Employment, Sport, Science and Technology Friends and Family, Government and Society etc.

Q. How can I prepare for IELTS essay writing?

Ans. To prepare for IELTS essay writing, practice writing essays on a variety of topics to improve your writing skills. Focus on structuring your essays with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Familiarise yourself with different types of essay questions (e.g., opinion, discussion, problem-solution) and practice organising your thoughts coherently. Additionally, seek feedback from teachers or peers to identify and work on your weaknesses.

Q. Where can I find sample IELTS essay topics for practice?

Ans. You can find sample IELTS essay topics on official IELTS websites such as the British Council and IDP. Many educational websites and IELTS preparation books also offer a wide range of practice topics. Online forums and study groups often share essay questions from recent exams, providing a good source of up-to-date practice material.

Q. What are the typical requirements for IELTS essay word count and structure?

Ans. The IELTS essay (Task 2) requires a minimum of 250 words. It is typically structured with an introduction that presents the main idea, body paragraphs that develop this idea with supporting arguments or examples, and a conclusion that summarises the key points. It’s important to write clearly and coherently, ensuring each paragraph flows logically into the next.

Q. What are some common IELTS essay topics?

Ans. Common IELTS essay topics include education, technology, environment, health, and society. For example, you might encounter questions about the benefits and drawbacks of online education, the impact of technology on communication, environmental conservation efforts, public health issues, or social issues like the aging population. Practicing essays on these topics will help you become familiar with the kinds of questions you may face in the exam.

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Experienced IELTS prep trainer and education management industry veteran. Specializes in public speaking, international education, market research, mentoring, and management.

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