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IELTS Map Vocabulary 2024

Kasturika Samanta

Updated On Apr 19, 2024

ielts map essay vocabulary

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IELTS Map Vocabulary 2024

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Maps are a description task that will come across in the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1. In this question type, you must describe in brief a presented map or compare two of them. Therefore, one of the crucial factors that you need to master in order to get a good band score is to get acquainted with IELTS map vocabulary.

So, let us check out the reasons for the importance of IELTS Task 1 map vocabulary along with some lists of commonly used words and phrases as part of the  IELTS writing task 1  map vocabulary and boost your IELTS preparation.

Why Do You Need to Learn IELTS Map Vocabulary?

Learning IELTS Writing Task 1 map vocabulary is important for many reasons. They are:

  • Aids in Fulfilling Scoring Criteria:  Vocabulary  or  Lexical resources  is one of the marking criteria for IELTS Writing, which accounts for 25% of our writing band score. Repeating words and phrases in your IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 answer will reduce your  band score . Therefore, to achieve a good score for vocabulary, learning IELTS Task 1 map vocabulary is crucial.
  • Makes Describing Easier:  Gaining knowledge of IELTS map vocabulary helps you to give more complex and descriptive explanations. By using specialized language to communicate exact information about locations, landmarks,  directions , and spatial arrangements, you can improve the quality of your writing.
  • Provides Clarity to Your Answer:  Using the right vocabulary for describing  IELTS maps  will make your writing more structured and comprehensive. So, using specific language to explain geographical aspects will help to ensure that your writing makes sense as it progresses from one point to the next.

Want to know more about how map vocabulary can help you to achieve Band 9? Check the video below!

IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary

There are various phrases that can be used to explain things. But there are certain words which can be used to describe the IELTS map or a diagram which are as follows:

IELTS Map Labelling Vocabulary for Cardinal Directions

Cardinal directions refer to the four main fixed points on a compass: north, south, east, and west. So, the words related to the cardinal directions are:

IELTS Map Task 1 Vocabulary: Different Parts of Speech

While describing the key features of an IELTS map or comparing two maps, it is essential to use proper adverbs of place, preposition, nouns, verbs and other parts of speech for a better description. Let’s check some in the lists below.

Adverbs & Prepositions

  • Upstairs/Downstairs
  • Clockwise/Anticlockwise
  • To the north/To the south/To the east/To the west
  • Across the road
  • Before you get to
  • In the middle of = in the centre of
  • Just beyond = a little beyond = just past
  • Inside/Outside
  • To the left of/ To the right of
  • Go up/Go down
  • Build/Construct
  • Demolished/Knocked-down
  • Extended/Expanded
  • Converted/Modernized
  • Located/situated
  • Is located = is situated = lies = there is = is
  • Run through = cross = pass through = go through
  • Cross = pass over = cut across
  • Renovated/Reconstruct
  • Cleared/Removed
  • Crossroad/intersection/junction
  • Housing area/residential area/sleeping area
  • Entrance/doorway
  • Area/field/zone
  • Site/place/location
  • Edge/boundary/ end/fringe

IELTS Map Task 1 Vocabulary for Specific Places

Using place-specific IELTS map vocabulary to point out the salient features from your map will help you stand out. Explore such task 1 map vocabulary to frame a high-level answer.

City or Town

  • Satellite town
  • Upmarket shops
  • Pavement/sidewalk
  • Transition zone
  • Archipelago

Learn how to use IELTS Map Vocabulary with IELTS experts!

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Grammar for IELTS Map Vocabulary

Familiarizing with  grammar  as part of IELTS map vocabulary is equally important as it is assessed under the criterion, Grammatical range and accuracy. So, check out the most common grammatical form you can use while summarizing features for maps.

Present passive

Overall, notable differences  can be found  in the Bristol area, particularly with regard to the new park and mall.

Future passive

Tourist attractions that are under construction  will be included  on the town map once they are completed.

Perfect passive 

As the second map depicts, the old school ground  has been transformed  into a resort that has different modern features.

IELTS Map Vocabulary to Frame Writing Task 1 Answer with Example Sentence

Now let us look at some IELTS map vocabulary with example sentences that will help you write a Band 9 answer for your IELTS map.

Introduction

System of coordinates, table format, description, map location, tips to use ielts map vocabulary for a better score.

Effective use of IELTS map vocabulary can greatly improve your exam result. To improve your score, use the following tips to make better use of words linked to maps:

  • Get to know the map vocabulary for IELTS:  Ensure that you understand the terminology used in maps, such as directions, landmarks, and spatial relationships to guarantee precision and coherence.
  • Learn Synonyms and Alternatives:  Go through the synonyms and variants of frequently used IELTS map vocabulary to increase the size of your word bank. This enables you to convey the same topic in multiple ways, which can enhance the richness and diversity of your IELTS Writing Task 1 answer.
  • Study Sample Responses:  You can have a better grasp of how to use IELTS map vocabulary by reviewing sample responses or model answers that include it. Examine the language and arrangement of these answers to find recurring themes and strategies.
  • Practice Explaining Maps:  Take time in practicing using the right words when explaining maps or diagrams. This may be comparing various maps, providing instructions, or explaining how something has changed over time. You’ll get more accustomed to employing map vocabulary successfully as you practise more.
  • Evaluate Accuracy:  Make sure you’re utilizing the right and accurate terminology related to maps. Your score may suffer if you use terms improperly or out of context. Spend some time verifying the accuracy of your vocabulary selections.

Learn IELTS Map Vocabulary with IELTSMaterial

If you’re looking to enhance your writing skills for the IELTS exam, IELTSMaterial can be a valuable resource. Whether it is about updating your vocabulary with words used in IELTS Writing Task 1 test or learning how to use them appropriately, our experts are your all-time partners.

Feel free to check out our highly rated  IELTS Vocabulary  and  IELTS Writing learning material  with example answers or  get in touch with our IELTS experts  if you need more advice. Take the step you need to boost your prep further and receive a Band 8+ on the IELTS Academic Writing Task 1.

Additional Reads

  • How to score band 8 in IELTS
  • IELTS Listening Map Labelling
  • IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days
  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Map Diagram – Lessons, Tips and Strategies
  • Steps to Solve IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is meant by map vocabulary?

How to describe maps using IELTS map vocabulary?

Which typical errors should I avoid while using IELTS map vocabulary in the IELTS Writing exam?

How can I use the IELTS map labelling vocabulary for Writing Task 1 effectively?

What are some examples of IELTS map labelling vocabulary for specific locations?

How can I enhance my IELTS map vocabulary for Task 1?

Are there any tips for memorizing map vocabulary effectively?

Can I use synonyms for IELTS map vocabulary words?

Are mind maps useful for learning IELTS map vocabulary?

Where can I get materials to help me study and practise vocabulary maps for the IELTS test?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 1 based on report types

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Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika Samanta

Kasturika is a professional Content Writer with over three years of experience as an English language teacher. Her understanding of English language requirements, as set by foreign universities, is enriched by her interactions with students and educators. Her work is a fusion of extensive knowledge of SEO practices and up-to-date guidelines. This enables her to produce content that not only informs but also engages IELTS aspirants. Her passion for exploring new horizons has driven her to achieve new heights in her learning journey.

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IELTS Map Vocabulary: Most Commonly Used Vocabulary, Best Tips

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  • Updated on  
  • Dec 21, 2023

IELTS-MAP-VOCABULARY-MOST-COMMONLY-USED-VOCABULARY

Task 1 of the IELTS academic writing section includes a challenging task, i.e., describe a map. This task goes beyond mere English fluency; it demands critical thinking and analytical prowess to dissect the information and present it with clarity and insight. Vocabulary can play a major role in helping you bolster your chances of securing better scores in the IELTS academic writing test. A robust command of words allows you to paint a vivid picture of the map’s features, their relationships, and any underlying trends. So, how do you equip yourself with this linguistic arsenal? By ingraining the habit of daily English immersion. 

Consume news articles, watch documentaries, and listen to podcasts – every bit of exposure strengthens your grasp of vocabulary and its nuanced applications. This enrichment goes beyond rote memorisation; it equips you to wield words with precision and flair in your IELTS writing . Remember, mastering the map-describing task is about wielding both the map and the language with strategic brilliance. Hone your analytical skills, and fuel them with a rich vocabulary. That being said, read the article to know more about IELTS map vocabulary. 

This Blog Includes:

Most commonly used ielts map vocabulary 2024, how to describe a map for ielts academic task 1 , ielts map sample: learn how to describe a map in ielts writing  task 1.

Writing task 1 of the IELTS academic test includes a map test that poses a major challenge to students. In this task, you ought to describe the given map in a well-written, articulated, coherent and comprehensible essay of a minimum of 150 words. The IELTS writing task 1 gauges an individual’s proficiency and holds on to their English vocabulary . Thereby, you ought to broaden and hone your lexicon skills to score better in the IELTS Map test in the writing section. 

That being said, vocabulary plays a major role in helping students secure better scores in their IELTS writing task 1. It is even said that vocabulary in itself carries a weightage of 25% of your overall marks in the IELTS writing task 1. One thing to note is that students must never reiterate using the same words or vocabulary now and then. This is why it is imperative to broaden your vocabulary. Here are some of the most commonly used IELTS map vocabulary to help you score a perfect band 9 in the IELTS writing task 1. 

Must Read: IELTS Syllabus 2023 & Section-Wise Exam Pattern

The Writing Task 1 of IELTS Academic requires students to analyse the information given on maps and describe it in an essay in a cohesive and comprehensible manner. Furthermore, the map-describing task will require you to state the disparity between the past, present and future of the streets, buildings etc, shown in the map. This task gauges an individual’s writing prowess and scores them based on task achievement, coherence, lexical resources and grammatical accuracy. That being said, here are the best tips that you can refer to describe a map for IELTS Academic Task 1. 

  • Plan your exploration : Before diving into the map, take a moment to organise your thoughts. Consider the key features, their changes, and potential future developments.
  • Start with the entry point: Imagine entering the area depicted on the map. Describe what you see first, setting the stage for your exploration.
  • Wordsmith with purpose : Aim for at least 150 words, comprehensively covering all map details and proposed changes. Don’t forget to mention the timeline, if applicable.
  • Introduce with insight : Start with a concise overview of the map’s main features and any significant transformations. This context adds weight to your analysis.
  • Emphasise impact: Don’t just describe; analyse! Discuss the consequences of changes, whether environmental, social, or economic.
  • Clarity is key : Ensure your writing is clear and logical, guiding the reader through your map interpretation. Structure your essay with a clear introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a concluding summary.
  • Connect the dots : Seamless transitions are your allies. Use transition words and phrases to smoothly guide the reader between ideas and map elements.
  • Expand your vocabulary : The richer your vocabulary, the more impressive your analysis. Immerse yourself in English content to build your writing repertoire.
  • Variety is the spice: Avoid repetitive vocabulary. Opt for synonyms and diverse sentence structures to showcase your linguistic range.
  • Active or passive : While the passive voice has its place, consider using the active voice for a more engaging and dynamic writing style.

Must Read: IELTS Eligibility: IELTS Exam Age Limit & Qualification

Refer to the data given below to get a solid understanding of the map describing tasks in the IELTS academic writing section. 

The map below shows the development of the village of Ryemouth between 1995 and the present. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. 

Sample Answer: 

Ryemouth’s evolution over the past two and a half decades is evident in its burgeoning housing developments, the disappearance of its once-thriving fishing industry, and the blossoming of new sports venues. 

In 1995, Ryemouth buzzed with the life of a bustling fishing community. A vibrant port bustled with activity, delivering its bounty to a bustling fish market, while a quaint cafe hummed with the chatter of fishermen.

Fast forward to today, and the map tells a different story. The once-bustling fishing facilities have been replaced by modern apartments. Where shops once stood, tempting passersby, inviting restaurants now beckon diners.

Time has painted a new portrait of Ryemouth. The farmland has transformed into a manicured golf course, and the forest park has given way to energetic tennis courts. Yet, remnants of the past linger. The old houses hold their ground, while newbies join the scene along a brand-new road. Even the hotel, a timeless landmark, now offers the modern appeal of parking facilities.

So that was all about the map describing tasks in IELTS academic writing. We hope the blog has answered all your queries about the topic. 

Ans. You can write IELTS map essays by analysing the given information, discerning the salient features of the data, writing a crisp and solid introduction, a to-the-point overview section and detailed body paragraphs. 

Ans. Some of the most common vocabulary used in map questions in IELTS are crossroad, intersection, housing area, etc. 

Ans. The scoring range of IELTS writing is 0-9. 

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How to Describe Maps for IELTS Writing Task 1

Posted by David S. Wills | Mar 17, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 0

How to Describe Maps for IELTS Writing Task 1

Today, I am going to show you how to describe maps for task 1 of the IELTS writing test. I have written about this before, but this will be the first in-depth lesson on map descriptions. In this lesson, you will find out everything you need to know in order to get a great score if you encounter a map in your next writing test.

ielts map descriptions - a guide

Maps and IELTS: An Overview

First of all, you need to understand the purpose of IELTS map description. In fact, it is important to recognise the purpose of task 1 of the IELTS test! This part of the exam is designed to see how well you can describe things. In that regard, it is quite different from task 2.

Maps are used in IELTS because they require you to describe the physical layout of a location in addition to showing changes over time. Normally, you will be given two maps of the same area and you will be asked to explain what changes have occurred.

It is really important to know this because otherwise you might not understand how to approach the essay. There are many misconceptions about IELTS but really it is quite simple – you are required to show that you can use the language for different purposes.

Types of Map

You will see different types of map in the IELTS writing test. There are maps of streets, towns, villages, islands, parks, and even interior layouts of buildings in some rare cases. However, they pretty much all serve the same function – there will be two maps that show changes over a period of time.

You should not think too much about the type of map as the function is basically the same – it will show a physical location . Your job is to describe that location and then highlight the changes that take place.

Vocabulary for Map Descriptions

I have a full article on vocabulary for describing IELTS maps so you should read that if you want to know the details. This lesson is quite important because it teaches you about the key things you need to know. I will summarise the important parts here.

In describing a map, you have to imagine that your reader cannot see the same image that you see. Your job is to put that image into their head. This requires you to be accurate and concise in the words that you use.

Start with cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. These will help you immensely. It is not enough to say “on the right” because that is relative. One person’s right could be another person’s left.

how to write ielts map essay

You need to know prepositions as well. This is incredibly important. If you get your prepositions wrong, it could lead to a totally inaccurate description of the map. That would be a huge problem.

Example of Direction and Preposition Use

Look at these two maps of a place called Felixstone:

ielts map - felixstone

We can see many changes but before we begin to describe them, we need to explain where those things were.

Where is the farmland?

  • In 1967, there was an area of farmland in the eastern part of the map, just to the north of the road.

Where is the private beach?

  • In 2001, there was a private beach in the southeast of the map. It meets the road at its northernmost point and leads all the way to the sea at the south.

Where are the wind turbines?

  • By 2001, four wind turbines had been added between the dunes and the sea.

Please note that there could be other great ways to describe any of these things. These are just a few examples to show you the uses of accurate language.

Sample Answer

Here is my full description to the Felixstone map:

There are two maps of a place called Felixstone. One map is from 1967 and the other from 2001. Many changes took place in the intervening years, including the removal of a marina and pier. In 1967, Felixstone was comprised of a road with a golf course, high street, and farmland to the north of it. To the south, there were trees and dunes, a hotel and a café, and a marina and fish market. By 2001, the farmland to the north of the road had been replaced by a hotel with a swimming pool and tennis courts. Half of the shops on the main street had been converted into apartments. To the south of the road, the hotel had gained a large car park and some wind turbines were added between the dunes and the sea. However, the biggest change was the removal of the marina and pier, which were replaced by a public beach and a private beach. The fish market beside the pier was also removed.

Tenses and IELTS Task 1 Maps

One thing that people often overlook is the importance of accurate tense use in IELTS task 1. Of course, verb tenses are always important in English. They are complicated but essential for conveying meaning. However, in task 1 people often focus on just describing the physical layout. This is important, but so is capturing time.

Considering my example above, let’s look at the first sentence of paragraph three:

  • By 2001, the farmland to the north of the road had been replaced by a hotel with a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Why did I use the phrase “had been replaced”?

This is the passive form of the past perfect tense . I used the passive form because it was appropriate here. In describing map changes, we do not know who made the change, so passive voice is necessary. As for past perfect, this is how we look further into the past from the perspective of a point in the past.

Let me explain more: This map referred to two points of time – 1967 and 2001. Both of these points of time are in the past. Thus, when we look at changes that have occurred by 2001, we must use look back into the past from the past! It seems so complicated, but it really isn’t.

verb tenses for describing ielts maps

Choosing What to Describe

When it comes to IELTS maps, you might face two potential problems about choosing what to describe:

  • There are too many things to describe.
  • There aren’t enough things to describe.

This can be difficult, particularly in an exam scenario. I would offer the following advice:

  • If it seems that there are too many things, then begin by picking the most important and then describe it as best you can. Then pick other things logically. If you find it is taking too long, you can finish and not worry about the others. After all, you don’t need to describe everything .
  • If it seems that there aren’t enough things, you are going to need to get creative. You should devote a little extra effort to giving details about the key aspects of the map. Don’t just say “there is a bridge in the north.” Say “there is a bridge in the north of the map that goes over the Severn River. It connects the towns of Dorwith and Forlsom.” This will help you to use more words. However, it really shouldn’t be a problem as IELTS maps tend to contain enough data to easily write 150 words.

Anyway, the most important thing is that you select the most important data and sequence it logically.

How to Structure an IELTS Map Description

I wrote this article on IELTS writing task 1 essay structures. You should read this because maps really don’t require anything special. The structure will basically be the same as it would for charts, tables, and so on. It should look like this:

  • Introduction – say what the map is and highlight a key change
  • Body paragraph one – describe the first map
  • Body paragraph two – describe the second map and highlight changes

There are other reasonable ways to approach this. You may, for example, devote a paragraph to the main changes and another paragraph to lesser changes. However, it is usually best to give a paragraph on each of the two maps.

One thing is the “general trend” sentence. As you probably know, IELTS writing task 1 essays require a sentence that gives the general trend of a chart or table. However, there is no such thing for maps. You can instead highlight a significant change or try to capture the gist of the differences.

Video about Difficult Maps for IELTS

Last year, I made this video about describing difficult IELTS maps. You might find it useful given the information in this lesson.

You can also find sample map descriptions here and here . On a related note, you can find IELTS listening map skills here .

About The Author

David S. Wills

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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IELTS Map Academic Writing Guide

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

map writing ielts

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.

ielts map chart 1

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

ielts map topic

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

ielts map example

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

IELTS writing correction

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

ielts map sample

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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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.

ielts map essay vocabulary

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.

ielts map essay vocabulary

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

ielts map essay vocabulary

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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PRACTICING MAP VOCABULARY FOR IELTS — 100+ WORDS TO MASTER

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IELTS Podcast

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Vocabulary to describe a map

Vocabulary to describe a map

July 17, 2021 By Ben Worthington

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Our latest tutorial teaches you about Task 1 Map questions. These usually consist of two maps which have undergone a change.

In this tutorial, you will learn:

  • Map specific vocabulary to answer academic task 1
  • Verbs to describe changes in maps (valuable)
  • Advanced prepositions of place to correctly describe positions on a map

Read the full tutorial and vocabulary here: https://www.ieltspodcast.com/academic-task-1/map-vocabulary/

You can download or listen to the audio version here:

| Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud | Transcript |

Ben Worthington

About Ben Worthington

As the founder of IELTSPodcast, Ben started his journey as an English educator in 2006. Ben and his team of teachers provide students with expert advice, twice a week to cover the writing, reading, listening and speaking sections of the IELTS exam.

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ielts map essay vocabulary

Preparation for the IELTS Exam

IELTS Writing task 1 academic: Maps Lesson

Writing about maps in ielts.

Updated: Feb 2023

Maps sometimes show up in IELTS academic writing task 1. There are different types of maps and the most common is the past and present (this task below) or sometimes both maps may be in the past. There are also maps which show proposals for the future such as a redevelopment scheme.

You will need to use specific vocabulary in this task and the grammar needed would be the past tense (was /were), the present perfect passive to describe change and prepositions . You also have to use specific language that shows location and change.

The structure for Writing task 1

Click the blue button to see the structure for all IELTS task 1 academic tasks.

IELTS writing task 1 structure

Key vocabulary to use for describing maps

ielts map essay vocabulary

Example sentences:

Note that the grammar used to describe changes is in the passive.

  • The offices were demolished and the surrounding area was redeveloped with a new leisure centre opening up .
  • The shopping centre was extended and the parking area was enlarged to accommodate more cars
  • The trees were cut down and a new office block was erected .
  • A railway was constructed with the introduction of a new train station.
  • The industrial area was modernised and made bigger with lots of new factories being built
  • The local government had the sports facilities renovated and the small park was made into a children’s playground
  • The park was replaced with a new housing complex.

Vocabulary for showing location

When describing the location of something on a map that has a compass symbol you should use phrases like:

  • to the north of
  • to the east of
  • in the west
  • to the south of
  • north-west of

Prepositions are essential when describing the location on a map, such as:

  •  from north to south
  • from east to west
  • across from
  • The trees to the north of the river were cut down and a new office block was built .
  • A railway was constructed to the east of the housing estate with the introduction of a new train station.
  • The forest to the west of the park was cut down and a new housing complex was constructed.
  • The industrial area to the south-west of the station was expanded.

Prepositions:

  • Houses were constructed next to the primary school.
  • The forest near the river was cut down.
  • A new railway running from north to south was built.
  • The footpath by the river was expanded.
  • Parking facilities were added to the city centre.
  • The school across from the park was extended and new sports facilities were built.

Vocabulary for describing change over time

When describing change, the present perfect and the present perfect passive is often used. Time phrases are also used such as: over the 20 year period, from 1990 to 2000, over the years, in the last 10 years, in the years after 1990 and so on.

The present perfect and The present perfect passive shows that something started in the past up until the present moment (or near present)

Examples:  has witnessed big changes / has become more industrialised / has been built/ has been modernised

Theses sentences below are often used to give an overview of the main differences between the two maps.

  • Over the 20 year period , the area has witnessed big changes especially to the farmland areas which were redeveloped.
  • From 1990 to 2010 a new housing estate was constructed where a school once stood.
  • The forest and green spaces have been profoundly affected over the two decades and were replaced by housing.
  • In the period from 1990 onward , the leisure facilities were completely renovated.
  • The city centre has seen dramatic changes over the years .
  • In the years after 1990 , the city centre was extensively modernised.
  • The town used to be very green but it has become much more industrialised in the last 15 years.
  •  A new stadium has been built and more sports faciities have been opened up over the years.

The Overview

The overview comes just after the introduction and makes a general statement about the main differences between the maps. The overview is quite short, maybe about 2 or 3 sentences. Do not go into detail in the overview.

In the task below there are 2 maps. The past (1986) and present. In this case, you will need to use the past tense and the present perfect to describe the changes.

Model Answer

Click the blue button to see the full model answer.

‘The two maps below show the changes in the town of Denham from 1986 to the present day. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.’

ielts writing task 1 maps

The maps illustrate the main changes which have taken place in the town of Denham from 1986 to the present moment.

Overall, the town has most notably shown an increase in housing development which indicates a higher population and a move away from agriculture and farming.

One change that stands out is that there has been a significant redevelopment over the whole period. To the east of the river stoke housing now dominates the area of what was once farmland. In 1986 there were shops and just a handful of residential properties. Now there are neither shops nor farmland left, although the post office is still there. The bridge over the river stoke still stands as it did in 1986.

Another noticeable change is that more roads have been built around the housing complex. Additionally, the gardens that were in front of the large house in 1986 have been removed and the house has been expanded and converted into a retirement home. The primary school still stands and has been extended in the decades since.

(175 words)

Aim for around 170 to 190 words in this task. You will not have time to go into a long report and you need to be selective in writing task 1.

ielts writing correction service

Any questions? leave a comment below.

Also take a look at the instagram page-> click here to see it ., 1 thought on “ielts writing task 1 academic: maps lesson”.

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IELTS Task 1 Map

In an IELTS task 1 map you often have to compare a map from the past with one from the present. 

This writing task 1 sample map shows you an example of one of these types of question with a model answer. 

Organisation: Each Map in Turn

You have several choices of how to organise an IELTS task 1 map such as this. 

You could choose the various features in turn, such as the fishing port and market in the past, then note how these have now gone, with the market replaced by apartments.

Or you could describe everything in the first map, then everything in the second map. This is how this sample answer is organised.

Either way, make sure you describe all the key features  in the IELTS task 1 map and don't miss any. 

Hopefully the tenses to use will be obvious. You need to use past tenses for the first IELTS task 1 map in 1995 and present tenses for the present day one. 

IELTS Task 1 Map Sample

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The map below shows the development of the village of Ryemouth between 1995 and present.

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

Write at least 150 words.

IELTS Task 1 Map Sample

Sample Answer

The map shows how a village called Ryemouth has developed over the last twenty-five years. There have been several changes, the most noticeable being the increases in accommodation, the elimination of the fishing industry, and the introduction of sports facilities. 

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

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

(240 Words)

This IELTS task 1 map would receive a high score. 

The map has a clear overall progression and organisation as it is introduced, the main features are identified, then it clearly compares the first map with the second. 

There is a mix of vocabulary , with the right language of location used to say where things were positioned and the language of comparison and contrast used to good effect to show how things differed or remained the same.

There is a good range of accurate complex sentences and structures to ensure a higher score for grammatical range and accuracy.

Some examples of these are:

  • ...the village where the sea is
  • On the other side of the road running by the sea stood a...
  • ...hotel, while situated in
  • ...it can be seen that 
  • ...gone, being replaced by
  • ...albeit with parking facilities which it did not have before
  • Having been converted
  • Although the old houses

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More on IELTS Maps:

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 essay vocabulary

IELTS Map Sample: Organising the map by features / items

In this IELTS map sample for writing task 1 you have to describe the differences presented in a plan of a park.

ielts map essay vocabulary

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.

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.

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IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map With Model Answer

Pen and highlighters over blank IELTS writing map - image by Magoosh

Some IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions present a map, which you’ll need to describe and explain. To give you a better idea of how to approach this Task 1 question type, we’ll show you a practice question with a model band 9 essay .

To see why this essay is band 9, see our Band 9 essay with scorer commentary , and check out the official IELTS rubric for Task 1 (PDF) .

This particular prompt is an IELTS map . Your approach to this map should be the same as your approach to any other Task 1 infographic. Take a look at the information and think carefully. What is the best way to summarize the way the information is structured and the main points? From there, how can you best compare the most relevant pieces of information? Finally, how should you structure that summary and comparison? For more advice on how to approach this, see our article on IELTS Academic Task 1 paragraph structure , as well as our main page for IELTS sample questions and practice resources .

Try to do this prompt yourself. Then check out our band 9 model essay below the prompt and compare it to your own work to see how you did.

Model IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Prompt: Describe a Map

The diagrams below show changes that have taken place in the Sawry District neighbourhood since 1920.

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

ielts map essay vocabulary

Model Essay

This pair of maps depicts change over the course of a century in the Sawry District neighborhood by showing the area in 1920 and 2020.

The overall change in the neighborhood is one of growth. By 2020 there are more businesses, more housing, and greater public services. However, not all businesses and services remained intact after 1920.

Business and housing saw the most change and growth. The cannery present in 1920 was replaced by an office complex. Two of the houses near the Elmwood River were demolished and replaced by a road and an apartment complex. Oak Avenue went from having two houses and a shop to having three houses, two shops, an apartment complex, and a petrol station.

The change in public services was less significant than the change in housing and businesses. Prestwich Primary School was demolished and then rebuilt as a bigger school, closer to Oak Street’s shops. And Elmwood River gained a bridge and a bike path, the latter of which replaced the small beach seen on the 1920 map.

More Practice IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 Sample Questions with Model Essays

  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Process Diagram with Model Answer
  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Bar Chart With Model Answer
  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Line Graph with Model Answer
  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Pie Chart with Model Answer
  • IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Comparing two Graphics with Model Answer

Also, make sure you are prepared for the entire Writing section. Click here for a page full of IELTS Writing resources .

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2 responses to “IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map With Model Answer”

Salowa Salam Shaoli Avatar

The maps illustrate how the Sawry district neighborhood changed over a period of a century from 1920 to 2020. Overall, the change in the neighborhood developed and had more business, housing, and greater public services by 2020. However, some businesses were not same after 1920. Business and housing contributed the most to the development. An office complex took over the place of the cannery of 1920. Due to the expansion of the road to the Elmwood river, two of the housing complexes were knocked down and added with a brand-new apartment complex. The number of housing and shops rose at the Oak Avenue. Though the development in public services was not as drastic as housing and business, the Prestwitch primary school was relocated and built a bigger one affecting some of the woods near the shop area. A petrol station was installed at the place of the former small primary school close to the miller’s lake. A bridge was constructed across the Elmwood river to connect the Sawry district to the other part of the city. A bike path at the bank of the river took over the small beach seen a century before.

uccy Avatar

The map depicts the transformation of a neighbourhood in Sawry district over a century, specifically from 1920 to 2020.

The district experienced prominent changes in the timeframe resulting in newer infrastructure, relocation of pre-existing businesses and demolitions.

Tulebug bros. cannery was situated on the Northwest of the Oak avenue in the year 1920, with a few houses set northeast near the beach by the elmwood river. The southern region of oak avenue had a primary school named Prestwich with fewer houses than the northern area, with the inclusion of a shop.

By 2020, this northern area was altered dramatically, with the replacement of the Cannery by Yang office complex and additionally on the northeastern bend, a bridge was constructed over the Elmwood river and a bike path underneath, just by the river bank where the beach was previously situated.

Additionally, the southern region of the district changed as well, with the relocation and development of the Prestwich primary school, and inclusion of a petrol station where it used to be. Apartment complexes were established, which was new to the community and an additional shop to possibly meet the demands of the growing neighborhood.

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TASK ONE VOCABULARY: MAPS

Much of the vocabulary required to describe a map is relatively simple, things like swimming pools and shopping centres, for example. More difficult vocabulary is often provided for test takers on the map or on a key next to the map.

However, describing a map requires a high level of vocabulary for describing positions and changes. By improving this vocabulary, test-takers can rapidly improve their lexical resource (vocabulary) scores. The following lists show a wide range of vocabulary that can be practiced and used in all IELTS map question essays, along with example sentences for each.

Changes to structures

Changes to nature, positional verbs, relative positional language, compass positions, general distances, useful general phrases, comparative language (positive), comparative language (negative), category adjectives, change in category, using nouns and adjectives instead of verbs.

Many of the verbs listed above that describe a type of change can also be used as nouns or adjectives. For example: 

This pattern is possible with most of the verbs in the ‘changes to _____’ tables above, but test-takers should be cautious as using either the noun or adjective structure too much will make the essay difficult to read. 

Remember :  

1. If a sentence can be written more simply without losing meaning or becoming informal, the simplest choice is usually the best. 

2. Using an adjective requires a noun phrase (The redeveloped dock area…) which is a formal style appropriate for IELTS, but should also be used occasionally and only with confidence.

In most cases it is appropriate to use only verbs, or add one sentence that includes a verb such as ‘undergo’ plus a noun form.  

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ielts map essay vocabulary

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Vocabulary for IELTS: Word Lists, Exercises & Pronunciation

IELTS vocabulary lessons with word lists, practice exercises and pronunciation. Learn word lists for common topics and how to pronounce words correctly in English. Vocabulary  is 25% of your marks for IELTS writing and speaking and also plays a key role in listening and reading. You need to develop your English language vocabulary if you wish to crack IELTS.

Vocabulary for IELTS Topics

Below are IELTS topics for improving your English language vocabulary.

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Paraphrasing Successfully

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Uncountable Nouns

Get a list of over 100 common uncountable nouns with practice exercises. This is an essential page to view before your IELTS test. The most common vocabulary mistake in IELTS is with uncountable nouns.

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Spelling: US vs UK English Words

Learn about the differences in spelling between UK English and US English. For the IELTS writing test, you ought to choose one type of spelling and not mix them. Click below:

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Idioms count for your score of vocabulary. They are informal and should not be used in writing. But you can use some of them in IELTS speaking.

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Improve your vocabulary by learning the exact meaning of words and how to use them correctly. These lessons are either words lists or lessons which focus on how to use a particular word correctly. For students aiming to reduce the number of errors in their writing and speaking, these lessons are essential.

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ielts map essay vocabulary

MAPS ESSAY EXAMPLES

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic Maps Essay Examples

View High Band Score Examples Of IELTS Writing Task 1Academic Maps Essays.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Maps Example Essay 4

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic map essay example that is a band score 8.  The question is: The map below shows the changes in an American town between 1948 and 2010. Take a look at the sample answer.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Maps Example Essay 3

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic map essay example that is a band score 8.  The question is: The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S) is planned for the town. The map shows two possible sites for the supermarket. Take a look at the sample answer.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Maps Example Essay 2

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic map essay example that is a band score 8.  The question is: The diagram shows the proposed changes to Foster road. Write a 150-word report describing the proposed changes for a local committee. Take a look at the sample answer.

IELTS Writing Task 1 – Maps Example Essay 1

IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic map essay example that is a band score 8.  The question is: The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities. Take a look at the sample answer.

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Vocabulary for Academic IELTS Writing Task 2 (part 1)

The general format for writing academic writing task 2/ ielts essay is as follows:, many/some people claim/opine/believe that... there is no denying that... it is often said that... these days.../ nowadays.../ in this day and age... it goes without saying that... it is universally accepted that... we live in an age when many of us are... people are divided in their opinion regarding... .... is one of the most important issues... whether .... or .... is a controversial issue..., let us examine both views before reaching a concrete decision. the following paragraphs discuss whether ...... or ...... and reach a reasonable conclusion. the following essay takes a look at both sides of the argument. my two cents go for... however, i strongly believe that... i oppose the view and my reasons will be explained in the following paragraphs. i will support this view with arguments in the following paragraphs. i personally believe that... thus the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages... i wholeheartedly believe that this trend should be changed., in my opinion... i strongly opine that... i strongly agree with the idea that... i strongly disagree with the given topic... i think... my opinion is that... personally speaking... in my view... i believe... apparently... personally speaking... according to me... from my point of view... ( not 'in my point of view') as far as i am concerned... from my perspective... i realise... to my way of thinking... it seems to me that... to me... to my mind... my own view on the matter is... it appears that... i feel that... i understand... i suppose..., it is true that... first... first of all... firstly... first and foremost... initially... to begin with... to start with... let us take a look at... it is worth considering... in the first place... though it is true that... some people believe that... many people think that... according to many... some people believe that... many support the view that... on the one hand..., second(ly)...  ( not 'second of all') third(ly)... then... next... after that... and... again... also... besides... likewise... in addition... consequently... what’s more... furthermore... moreover... other people think that... other people believe that... on the other hand... apart from that... finally... last but not least..., in the same way... likewise... similarly... like the previous point... similar to... also... at the same time... just as..., on the other hand... on the contrary... however... nevertheless.../ nonetheless... but... nonetheless/ nevertheless... oppositely... alternatively... unlike... while... whilst... although... though... even though... despite... / in spite of... in spite of the fact that... alternatively... in contrast to this... then again... on the other hand... despite the fact that... even so... yet... meanwhile..., as an example... as an illustration... as an instance... as for instance... for instance... for example... as for example... by way of illustration... by way of example... to illustrate... to paraphrase... to show an example... to give an example... to cite an example... to cite an instance... take one example... take one instance... like... as... that is... among others... such as... particularly... specifically... regarding... in particular... including/ to include... namely... with respect to... as far .... is concerned... as a piece of evidence... an example is... ...could be a good/ideal example here a case... when it comes to... as a model..., research shows that... research has found that... when it comes to... with respect to... not only... but also... in terms of..., furthermore... in addition... on top of that... besides... what is more... another point worth noting is... another factor to consider is... furthermore... not only .... but also... also..., as a result... consequently... as a consequence... as an effect... thus... so... the reason why... therefore... on account of... because of... hence... eventually... for this/that reason... thereby... due to... owing to..., as a result... as a result of... due to... one reason behind this is... ... has led to/ ... has resulted in... consequently... therefore..., to sum up... in short... in a word... to put it simply... that is to say... to repeat in short... to summarise..., it goes without saying that... obviously... needless to say... there is little doubt that... although... thought... nonetheless... nevertheless... still... yet... must... after after all... even if... therefore... thus....., to put it simply... to put it in another way... that is to say... in other words..., then... else... otherwise... besides... as soon as... as much as......

Correct and Incorrect phrases for IELTS Essay

In conclusion... In summary... To conclude... To conclude with... In closing... To sum up... In general... To summarise... In short... All in all... Overall... On the whole... To draw the conclusion... Given these points... Ultimately... In a nutshell... To elucidate... ('To elucidate' means - 'make something clear' or 'to explain'.) All things considered... By and large... Taking everything into consideration... Taking everything into account... In light of these arguments... Weighing up both sides of the argument...

IELTS Vocabulary Table

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IELTS essay vocabulary

  • In my opinion, …
  • Personally, I think that …
  • It seems to me that ...
  • I believe/suppose that ...
  • I cannot deny that …
  • As I see it, …
  • As far as I'm concerned, …
  • I would argue that ...
  • I'd like to point out that …
  • In my experience, ...
  • I am sure that …
  • I am convinced that ...
  • I am certain that ...

Example : I would argue that computers are rather beneficial for kids.

  • to attest, ...
  • to prove, ...
  • this (fact) is attested/proven by ...
  • this (fact) is evidenced by ...
  • this (fact) is testified by ...
  • this (fact) is endorsed/supported by...
  • this (evidence) establishes that ...

Example : Consuming moderate amounts of sweets can be good for health. This is evidenced by a number of cases when people improved their health conditions by eating chocolate.

  • It is (generally) claimed that …
  • It is (generally) said that …
  • It is (generally) thought that ...
  • It is (generally) considered that ...
  • A common opinion is that ...
  • A popular belief is that ...

Example : It is considered that rigorous diets are very unhealthy.

  • The fact is that …
  • It is obvious that …
  • It is clear that …
  • There is no doubt that …
  • This proves that …

Example : It is obvious that deforestation has no positive effects.

  • Generally speaking, ...
  • On the whole, ...
  • Typically, ...
  • By and large ...

Example : Generally speaking, smoking is a bad habit.

  • For example, ...
  • For instance, ...
  • A good illustration of this is ...
  • Evidence for this is provided by ...
  • We can see this when ...

Example : A lot of wild animals are endangered. Evidence for this is proved by decreasing number of species.

  • To summarise, ...
  • In conclusion, ...
  • Overall, ...
  • On balance, ...
  • Taking everything into consideration, ...

Example : Overall, no parents should neglect their children.

Essential Rules for Writing Effective Conclusions (2024‪)‬ IELTS Podcast

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What Are the Essential Rules for Writing Effective Conclusions? * Address the question directly. * Recap or reaffirm your stance. * Avoid introducing new information. * Keep it concise. Which Vocabulary Should You Use for Conclusion Writing? Consequently, Ultimately, Therefore, In conclusion, Hence, To summarise, In summary.   What Ideas Should Guide Your Conclusion Writing? * Ensure your conclusion accurately reflects how much you agree with the prompt, especially in “to what extent” questions. * Balance your introduction and conclusion using the sandwich technique. * Vary your vocabulary without repeating the language of your introduction or the question word for word. * State your position clearly and choose your best argument for or against without trying to summarise all your arguments. Share this guide:Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn Further Reading * IELTS Essay Structures * IELTS Writing Tips for a Higher Score * Essential IELTS Speaking Tips Discover more about effective writing techniques at Harvard University’s Writing Center. AUTHOR: By Ben Worthington, founder and manager of IELTSPodcast.com. An expert IELTS tutor with over 12 years of experience, helping thousands of students every year pass the IELTS exam with Band 7 or higher. Share on WhatsApp     https://traffic.libsyn.com/ieltspodcast/Powerful_conclusions_for_task_2_in_2024.mp3 |Direct Download Here | Stitcher | iTunes | Spotify | Soundcloud |

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Frank Bruni

Chris christie and bill barr have some explaining to do.

An illustration depicting two ballot boxes, one with an image of spilled milk on the front and the other with an image of a skull and crossbones.

By Frank Bruni

Mr. Bruni is a contributing Opinion writer who was on the staff of The Times for more than 25 years.

I admired the vigor and even eloquence with which Chris Christie, quixotically campaigning for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, made the case against Donald Trump. And I wrote as much .

But what he warrants today isn’t praise. It’s a lesson in chemistry. It’s a tutorial on beverages.

A little more than a week ago, during a public appearance at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics, Christie told Leigh Ann Caldwell of The Washington Post that he would never back Trump in November but that he also couldn’t bring himself to vote for President Biden. To explain his Biden aversion, Christie used a vocabulary more appropriate for spoiled milk.

“President Biden, in my view, is past the sell-by date,” he said .

The sell-by date matters when you’re purchasing dairy and you have better, fresher alternatives. But when you’re choosing a president and the other candidate is arsenic?

That’s pretty much how Christie spent much of last year describing Trump — as a civic toxin, a poison to us all. And if drinking spoiled milk is the protection against arsenic, you drink the spoiled milk. One means a possible tummy ache. The other can lead to lesions, cancer, even death.

In 2016 and 2020, Trump was a catalyst for bizarre moral relativism and pitiable moral surrender, and it’s happening again.

Christie calculates a false equivalence between Biden, whose policies he opposes and whose years are showing, and Trump, whose character and conduct Christie professedly reviles.

Bill Barr, the former attorney general who saw up close how Trump tried to subvert the peaceful transfer of power and who said in August that Trump “shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office,” now supports his return to it . Barr’s position, it seems, is that Trump’s lawlessness pales beside Biden’s liberalism and that authoritarianism is a small price to pay for keeping the woke social justice warriors at bay.

Then there’s Chris Sununu, the New Hampshire governor, who was all in for Nikki Haley until she was all out of hope. He’s now on Team Trump, as he confirmed last month during an inexpressibly depressing interview on the ABC News show “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos, who was dumbfounded, given Sununu’s past characterizations of Trump.

“You support him for president, even though you believe he contributed to an insurrection,” Stephanopoulos said, trying to make sure he understood Sununu correctly. “You support him for president, even though you believe he’s lying about the last election.”

“Yeah,” Sununu answered. “Me and 51 percent of America.”

That “51 percent” part gets to me as much as the rest of it: Trump is tolerable because many Americans (if not the “51 percent” that Sununu essentially invented) say he is. Must give the people whatever they want. I’m reminded of what our parents said to us when we argued for permission for something because all our friends were being allowed to do it: If those friends are jumping off a bridge, should you? Sununu’s answer, it seems, is yes. He’s jumping, along with all the other Republicans in moral free fall.

The conservative Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis recently looked at a few of the most prominent of those Republicans , venting disgust over the rationalizations of not only Barr and Sununu but also Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, who once strongly denounced Trump’s part in the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Shocker of shockers: McConnell will vote for him in November.

“Keep in mind, following Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, McConnell said that ‘Trump’s actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty’ and that ‘there is no question that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of that day,’” Lewis wrote. “Supporting a man McConnell has clearly deemed unfit for the office may make McConnell craven, cynical or absurd, but he’s not alone in his decision.” Far from it.

Christie at least isn’t supporting Trump. That’s something. And it’s a reason that he can hold his head higher than Sununu, Barr or McConnell can. But we’re talking inches, not yards, because his joint dismissals of Trump and Biden as similarly unsavory options gut his own appraisal, during that appearance in Chicago, of Trump as someone “wholly unfit to be president of the United States in every way you think.”

I’m not saying that Christie should be enthusiastic about Biden, that I don’t understand his qualms about the president or that I expect Christie and other longtime Republicans to have some sudden ideological conversion because their party’s nominee is such a grave threat. I’m asking Christie to remember that less than six months ago, he called Trump “a dictator.” And seemed to believe that.

But last week in Chicago he lumped Trump and Biden together: “If the American people are stupid enough to nominate these two guys, doesn’t mean I have to be stupid, too.” No, but the smart way to bar someone “wholly unfit” from the White House is to vote for that person’s opponent. That’s how elections work. “None of the above” isn’t a principled stand. It’s a moral cop-out — and its own dereliction of duty.

For the Love of Sentences

Much like Gary Shteyngart’s article on the world’s biggest cruise ship a few weeks back, Ron Charles’s appraisal in The Washington Post of Danielle Steel’s new novel, “Only the Brave,” was a start-to-finish jamboree of shining sentences: “By my count, ‘Only the Brave’ is Steel’s 152nd novel, but her publicist tells me, ‘It is closer to her 170th.’ Apparently, the actual number can only be guessed at, in the same way the total mass of dark matter in the universe is estimated by how it bends light.” Also: “In the months leading up to this week’s publication, Steel’s publicist reached out repeatedly to insist that I not mention that the author is a 76-year-old romance novelist. As always, we’re never ashamed of the right things.” (Thanks to Joan Pantsios of Chicago and William Harrison of Kelowna, British Columbia, among others, for drawing attention to Charles’s review.)

Speaking of book reviews — my Times colleague Dwight Garner weighed in memorably on both a memoir and a collection of essays by Joseph Epstein: “Epstein favors tasseled loafers and bow ties, and most of his sentences read as if they were written by a sentient tasseled loafer and edited by a sentient bow tie.” (Kevin Callahan, Forest Hills, N.Y., and Elinor Nauen, Manhattan)

Sticking with The Times, which was the source of most of your nominations over the past week — Margaret Lyons perfectly described the main character of the messy but mesmerizing “Baby Reindeer,” a new Netflix series about an aspiring stand-up comedian and his stalker: “Donny recognizes and articulates the dangers of wanting fame, how it warps his judgment but also could solve his problems. (One person knowing your darkest secret is unbearable, but a million people knowing it is stardom.) Agony and attention are bound together here — Look at me! No, not like that! — twin snakes choking the life out of their prey.” (Linda Trocki, La Quinta, Calif., and Stephen Ranger, Toronto)

And Maggie Haberman and Jonah E. Bromwich used a wide-angle lens to look at Trump’s current criminal trial. “Eventually, the case could threaten not only Mr. Trump’s freedom but also the central tenets of a lifelong ethos ever-present in the former president’s patter: a convenient disregard for the truth, the blunt denial of anything damaging and a stubborn insistence that his adversaries are always acting in bad faith,” they wrote. (Cynthia Croasdaile, Portland, Ore., and Veronica Stinson, Halifax, Nova Scotia, among others)

In The Atlantic, Thomas Chatterton Williams rued the “impersonal, tech-saturated” sameness of a new generation of cars: “Could a child ever dream about a Lucid or Rivian? These are generically good-looking, low-emissions vehicles that only a cyborg could lust over. They are songs sung through Auto-Tune, with clever and forgettable lyrics composed by ChatGPT.” (Marjorie Ivey, St. Louis)

In The Guardian, Ryan Busse pivoted from Kristi Noem to another Republican governor with animals in his sights, Greg Gianforte of Montana: “In 2021, Gianforte illegally shot and killed a collared Yellowstone wolf that had its leg caught in a steel-jawed trap. He wanted to stuff the wolf and display it in his office — presumably without its radio collar, which would have dampened the effect he was going for.” (Kurt Griffin, Sioux Falls, S.D.)

To return to The Washington Post — Michael Dirda’s review of Anne Curzan’s “Says Who? A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words” included this rumination on writing: “Effective prose, in truth, doesn’t resemble conversation. It’s more like sculpting with clay. You start with an inchoate mass, shape it a bit, hate the result, start over, try this, try that, give up, slink away in disgust, come back, work some more and eventually end up with something that looks vaguely like a pot or an essay.” (James Martin Thompson, Washington)

Having begun with Ron Charles, I’ll also end with him. In a recent Washington Post newsletter, he marveled at the actress Judi Dench’s astonishing ability to recite most of the lines from her long-ago parts in Shakespeare plays. “Such memorization is a lost art,” he wrote, adding that when he stares at the ceiling at night, “My mind is a tangle of bits of string, and all I can come up with is something like: ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Won’t you lay me down in the tall grass and let me do my stuff?’” For those of you not fluent in Fleetwood Mac, that last sentence is a lyric from the song “ Second Hand News .” (Denise Showers, Janesville, Wis.)

To nominate favorite bits of recent writing from The Times or other publications to be mentioned in “For the Love of Sentences,” please email me here and include your name and place of residence.

What I’m Doing, Planning and Reading

I spoke about my new book, “The Age of Grievance,” which came out this week, on “The Bulwark Podcast” with Tim Miller, and The Free Press just published the latest excerpt from it , about some of the particular ways in which the modern American economy sows envy and resentment. As someone whose diminished eyesight has made him a big and grateful consumer of audiobooks, I found it meaningful to do “The Age of Grievance” narration myself; here are its first five minutes . In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be making appearances in Montclair, N.J. ; Philadelphia ; and Washington, among other cities: My full schedule is on my website, where you’ll also find a range of information about the book. Also, I just added another event near my Chapel Hill, N.C., home, at McIntyre’s Books in Fearrington Village, on May 23; more details on that here .

Two Times colleagues whom I like and respect immensely have books of their own coming out in the next few weeks. “ Chasing Hope” is Nick Kristof’s look back at his extraordinary journalism career, including his travels to places most of us have never been and will never see. “ Trippy: The Perils and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics ” is Ernesto Londoño’s mix of candid personal reflection and deep reporting, illuminating a growing trend in mental health that many of us don’t understand.

Campus protests have riveted and divided Americans and led to bitterly tense scenes such as the arrests on Tuesday night of protesters who had barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University. How to make sense of it all? Two of the best recent takes came from George Packer in The Atlantic and Lydia Polgreen in The Times . I don’t agree with every paragraph or sentence that each of them wrote, but that’s not what I’m looking for in a piece of journalism, especially one covering such an important topic. I’m looking to be made smarter and to understand the dynamics of a situation more fully, and I’m looking for analysis that seeks to lower rather than raise the temperature. Both articles fill that bill.

On a Personal Note

I was happy to include a few lines about the Netflix series “Baby Reindeer” in this week’s For the Love of Sentences section not only because the lines in question are terrific but also because they reminded me to say a few words of my own about the show.

It’s definitely not for everyone. It’s harrowingly dark, and it’s also repetitive, revisiting or lingering on developments and details that have been amply examined. Streaming services these days seem to take the approach that any story that can be told in X number of hours or installments should be given 25 to 50 percent more time than that. Bloat is a given.

But little that I’ve watched lately gripped and haunted me the way “Baby Reindeer” did. It’s the story, based on real events, of a struggling (really, failing) comedian and his stalker, and it is so raw and so true on the subject of human neediness that it’s a gut punch. Who among us hasn’t felt some version of the desperation that these characters do? Hasn’t made awful choices just for the sake of having company, of being seen, of being admired, no matter the flaws, delusions and demands of the admirer?

“Baby Reindeer” isn’t a simple perpetrator-and-victim tale. It examines how we see and don’t see what’s right in front of us, depending on what we’re intent on believing. That’s true in politics, as the past few years have vividly demonstrated. But it’s even truer when we’re looking for love. Or hope. Or just the barest smidgen of affirmation.

Frank Bruni is a professor of journalism and public policy at Duke University, the author of the book "The Age of Grievance" and a contributing Opinion writer. He writes a weekly email newsletter .   Instagram   Threads   @ FrankBruni • Facebook

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

    ielts map essay vocabulary

  2. IELTS writing task 1 Maps lesson, IELTS maps. IELTS academic

    ielts map essay vocabulary

  3. IELTS writing task 1 Maps lesson, IELTS maps. IELTS academic

    ielts map essay vocabulary

  4. How To Write an IELTS Map Essay

    ielts map essay vocabulary

  5. How to effectively use the language of IELTS maps and plans.

    ielts map essay vocabulary

  6. More IELTS Passive vocabulary for Maps Ielts Writing Task1, Ielts

    ielts map essay vocabulary

VIDEO

  1. Advanced Lines On Travelling

  2. Cambridge IELTS Map practice| Book-15 Test-4| Listening map with answer and script

  3. Cambridge IELTS Map practice| Book-16 Test-4| Listening map with answer and script

  4. Cambridge IELTS Map practice| Book-13 Test-1| Listening map with answer and script

  5. Cambridge IELTS Map practice| Book-12 Test-4| Listening map with answer and script

  6. 👍 task 1 map band 9 vocabulary

COMMENTS

  1. IELTS Map Vocabulary 2024

    Learning IELTS Writing Task 1 map vocabulary is important for many reasons. They are: Aids in Fulfilling Scoring Criteria: Vocabulary or Lexical resources is one of the marking criteria for IELTS Writing, which accounts for 25% of our writing band score. Repeating words and phrases in your IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 answer will reduce your ...

  2. IELTS task 1 map vocabulary, grammar, prepositions and phrases

    Task 1 map questions usually consist of two maps which have undergone a change. The maps are usually of a landscape, an island or a town. The question rubric asks you to: 'Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where necessary.'. The consensus is to assign around 20 mins and to write at ...

  3. Top 30 IELTS map vocabulary & phrases for Writing task 1

    Comparative language: Use words and phrases that compare and contrast, like "similarly," "in contrast," "unlike," "whereas," etc. Descriptive vocabulary: Use a range of vocabulary to describe locations, directions, and changes (e.g., north of, adjacent to, transformed into, replaced by) Accuracy: Be precise in your descriptions.

  4. IELTS Maps: Vocabulary and Sentence Structures

    Paraphrases for Maps. Be careful with paraphrases. Most words in the key do not need to be paraphrased. town center = city center / center of the town (a town is not a city, don't try to paraphrase the word town) road = street (road and street are different) housing area = residential area. is located = is situated / lies / is.

  5. IELTS Map Vocabulary: Most Commonly Used Vocabulary, Best Tips

    Most Commonly Used IELTS Map Vocabulary 2024 Writing task 1 of the IELTS academic test includes a map test that poses a major challenge to students. In this task, you ought to describe the given map in a well-written, articulated, coherent and comprehensible essay of a minimum of 150 words.

  6. How to Describe Maps for IELTS Writing Task 1

    In fact, it is important to recognise the purpose of task 1 of the IELTS test! This part of the exam is designed to see how well you can describe things. In that regard, it is quite different from task 2. Maps are used in IELTS because they require you to describe the physical layout of a location in addition to showing changes over time.

  7. IELTS Map Sample for Writing Task 1 with Vocabulary

    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:

  8. Task 1 map vocabulary

    Task 1 map vocabulary. Writing task 1 is one of the sections of the IELTS academic test that requires students to write an essay of at least 150 words for the given graph, chart, table, map or process diagram. In the IELTS writing test, vocabulary is the important marking criteria. Before taking the task 1 map you need to be clear about how ...

  9. How to Describe an IELTS Writing Task 1 Map

    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.

  10. Writing Task 1 Map

    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. There will also be a key that explains different ...

  11. IELTS Map

    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.

  12. Practicing Map Vocabulary for Ielts

    Senior Copywriter. Olivia Evans, a 22-year-old copywriter from the UK, specializes in IELTS preparation and English language learning. She contributes to a leading educational website, where her engaging content and SEO skills help learners enhance their English proficiency for global opportunities. As you may already know, the IELTS Writing ...

  13. Vocabulary to describe a map

    Our latest tutorial teaches you about Task 1 Map questions. These usually consist of two maps which have undergone a change. In this tutorial, you will learn: Map specific vocabulary to answer academic task 1; Verbs to describe changes in maps (valuable); Advanced prepositions of place to correctly describe positions on a map

  14. IELTS Writing task 1 academic: Maps Lesson

    Updated: Feb 2023. Maps sometimes show up in IELTS academic writing task 1. There are different types of maps and the most common is the past and present (this task below) or sometimes both maps may be in the past. There are also maps which show proposals for the future such as a redevelopment scheme. You will need to use specific vocabulary in ...

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

    Comments. This IELTS task 1 map would receive a high score. The map has a clear overall progression and organisation as it is introduced, the main features are identified, then it clearly compares the first map with the second.. There is a mix of vocabulary, with the right language of location used to say where things were positioned and the language of comparison and contrast used to good ...

  16. IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

    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. Question 1. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

  17. IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map With Model Answer

    Some IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 questions present a map, which you'll need to describe and explain. To give you a better idea of how to approach this Task 1 question type, we'll show you a practice question with a model band 9 essay.. To see why this essay is band 9, see our Band 9 essay with scorer commentary, and check out the official IELTS rubric for Task 1 (PDF).

  18. TASK ONE VOCABULARY: MAPS

    However, describing a map requires a high level of vocabulary for describing positions and changes. By improving this vocabulary, test-takers can rapidly improve their lexical resource (vocabulary) scores. The following lists show a wide range of vocabulary that can be practiced and used in all IELTS map question essays, along with example ...

  19. IELTS Task 1: Maps

    IELTS Task 1: Maps. 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. Here are my EBooks. And if you want the other types of task 1 images, click below: Pie Charts. Line Graphs.

  20. Vocabulary for IELTS: Word Lists, Exercises & Pronunciation

    Vocabulary Lessons for IELTS Writing. Line Graph Vocabulary; Map Vocabulary and Useful Language: 1; Practice with Linking Words for Essay Writing; Advanced IELTS Lessons & E-books . CLICK: ADVANCED LESSONS & E-BOOKS. ADVANCED LESSONS & E-BOOKS - Target 7, 8 & 9. About me. Hi, my name is Elizabeth (Liz). I am your teacher and the author of this ...

  21. MAPS ESSAY EXAMPLES

    IELTS Writing Task 1 - Maps Example Essay 3. IELTS Writing Task 1 Academic map essay example that is a band score 8. The question is: The map below is of the town of Garlsdon. A new supermarket (S) is planned for the town. The map shows two possible sites for the supermarket. Take a look at the sample answer. Read More >>.

  22. IELTS Essay (Writing Task 2) Vocabulary

    IELTS Writing Task 2 (IELTS Essay Writing) requires a candidate to use a wide range of vocabulary. Connective words and phrases are very important to finish writing task 2 in a logical and coherent way. You must use transitional or connective words in your writing task 2 as it is considered one of the important factors for a high band score.

  23. IELTS writing vocabulary for band 9 essay

    As far as I'm concerned, …. I would argue that ... I'd like to point out that …. In my experience, ... Very strong opinions: I am sure that …. I am convinced that ... I am certain that ... Example: I would argue that computers are rather beneficial for kids.

  24. ‎IELTS Podcast: Essential Rules for Writing ...

    * Vary your vocabulary without repeating the language of your introduction or the question word for word. * State your position clearly and choose your best argument for or against without trying to summarise all your arguments. Share this guide:Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn Further Reading * IELTS Essay Structures

  25. Chris Christie and Bill Barr Have Some Explaining to Do

    Much like Gary Shteyngart's article on the world's biggest cruise ship a few weeks back, Ron Charles's appraisal in The Washington Post of Danielle Steel's new novel, "Only the Brave ...