IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary: Sample Answers & PDF

Maps have been humanity’s silent guides, charting courses from uncharted lands to bustling cities. Now, they’ve become a challenge in the path to IELTS success.

With the average IELTS writing score hovering around 7.0 in 2024, mastering the art of map description is essential. To transform geographical data into compelling prose, you need more than just direction — you need the language of a map expert.

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In this blog, you’ll explore essential IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary words that can help you improve your descriptions and boost your overall writing score. Using the right terms and phrases ensures that your map descriptions are detailed, accurate, and aligned with the standards needed to achieve a score of 7.0 or higher. 

Want to ace IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary? Dive in!

Key Highlights

Here is a table detailing this blog’s key points that will help you ace the IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary.

What is IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary?

In IELTS writing task 1, map vocabulary plays a crucial role as it helps you accurately describe the changes and features shown in different maps. Your ability to use precise terms like “constructed,” “demolished,” and directional phrases like “north of” or “adjacent to” is essential for achieving a high score.

This vocabulary is assessed under the Lexical Resource criterion, one of four areas, along with Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Each contributes 25% to your overall Task 1 score.

Here is a table that outlines the key types of vocabulary used in IELTS Writing Task 1 map descriptions:

These terms help you convey the map’s details clearly and concisely, which is crucial for achieving a high score.

Types of Map Charts in IELTS Writing Task 1

Familiarising yourself with the common map chart types will enhance your ability to effectively apply IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary in your response. 

Here are some of the most frequently encountered map types in this task.

1. Before and After Maps: These maps highlight how a specific area has changed, showing developments or transformations.
2. Proposed Changes Maps: These maps depict plans for an area, such as new infrastructure or urban development projects.
3. Comparative Maps: These maps compare locations or areas, highlighting their similarities and differences.
4. Single Time Point Maps: These maps present the layout of a place at one specific moment, offering a snapshot of that location.
5. Tourist or Transport Maps: These maps focus on key tourist attractions, transportation routes, or other thematic elements related to travel and navigation.

Also Read: Personality Vocabulary IELTS: About People & Personalities

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary: Key Terms

The overall average IELTS score for 2024 is reported to be 7.5, emphasising the need for precise language skills, particularly in specific tasks like map descriptions. Mastering IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary is crucial for accurately conveying changes, locations, and features in map-based tasks.

This section outlines essential terms and phrases to enhance your ability to describe maps effectively, helping you align with the high standards reflected in the current average IELTS scores.

Below are tables of key terms, each with an explanation of the key terms and their usage.

1. Regions and Directions

Regions and directions are essential for accurately locating features on a map. These terms help describe the geographical placement of different elements.

Here is a table outlining key vocabulary for regions and directions.

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2. Adverbs and Prepositions

Adverbs and prepositions are crucial for describing the relative positions and movements of features on the map.

Here is a table of important adverbs and prepositions used in map descriptions:

3. Nouns

Nouns identify various features and areas on a map, helping to categorise and describe different elements clearly.

Here is a table of key nouns used in IELTS map descriptions:

4. Verbs to Describe Changes

Verbs describe actions, movements, or changes in features on the map. They are key to detailing developments over time.

Here is a table listing important verbs for describing changes on maps.

5. Paraphrases for Maps

Paraphrases offer alternative expressions to add variety and avoid repetition in your map descriptions.

Here is a table of common paraphrases used in IELTS Writing Task 1 maps.

Most Commonly Used IELTS Map Vocabulary in 2024

Writing Task 1 of the IELTS Academic test often includes a map description, a task you may find challenging. In this task, you need to describe the given map in a clear, well-organised essay of at least 150 words.

To maximise your score, it’s important to avoid repetition and demonstrate a broad range of vocabulary. 

To help you prepare, here’s a list of commonly used IELTS map vocabulary that can help you aim for a Band 9 in Writing Task 1.

Example Sentences for IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Descriptions

When describing maps in IELTS writing task 1, using varied and precise vocabulary is key to conveying changes and locations effectively.

Below are some example sentences that illustrate how to use map vocabulary correctly. These examples will help you understand how to describe various features and developments on a map with clarity and detail.

• The hospital is located on the southeast side of the road.
• In that year, there was a significant decrease in rainfall.
• Over time, the village had steadily developed.
• The trees underwent rapid growth.
• During these years, the buildings were expanded.
• There was a shop positioned in the middle of the street.
• A roundabout was developed at the junction of the road.
• The depth of the pond was over 20 metres.

Structure for IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Questions

A clear and organised structure is crucial for effectively communicating your analysis when tackling IELTS writing task 1 map questions. Using precise IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary is essential for accurately describing changes, locations, and developments over time.

Below is a detailed structure that will help you approach these questions systematically.

1. Introduction: Start by paraphrasing the prompt. Mention the key features on the maps, such as the periods, the areas involved, and any significant changes that stand out.
2. Overview: Provide a broad summary of the main features or trends. Highlight general changes, like urbanisation or expansion, without delving into specifics. This sets the stage for a more detailed analysis.
3. Main Body Paragraphs: Break down 6-8 significant changes in detail. Use a variety of tenses to describe past, present, and future developments. Specify locations and directions, utilising precise IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary words such as “north of,” “adjacent to,” and “demolished.” 

Read more about IELTS Academic or General: Which is the Easiest Test?

Common Features of Map Charts in IELTS Writing Task 1 

In IELTS writing task 1, various symbols and icons represent different map features and changes. Understanding these symbols is key to accurately describing the map’s details.

Here is a table detailing the various icons and how to translate them into your essay seamlessly:

Also Read: IELTS Connectors and Linking Words for 2024

IELTS Writing Task 1 Map – Band Score 8.5 Sample

Achieving a Band 8.5 in IELTS writing task 1 requires exceptional precision and clarity, especially when describing maps. Mastery of IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary is crucial for effectively communicating changes, locations, and developments.

This Band 8.5 sample showcases how to expertly use map vocabulary to create a detailed and accurate description for IELTS Writing Task 1.

The maps below show the town of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010. Write a report of at least 150 words, summarising the main features and making comparisons where relevant.

Sample Answer

Here is a sample answer to the above question.

The two maps illustrate how Stokeford changed between 1930 and 2010. The main point of the city was its transformation from rural to urban areas, along with the increased infrastructure and the disappearance of farmland. 

In the year 1930, the town was a farmland area with a large number of livestock located both in the southwest and the northeast. There were two shops and a post office in the west, with a primary school just on the east of the road and an individual big house with gardens between the north and south of the area. During the next 80 years, the town saw several significant changes. The most noticeable is that all of the farmland areas were transformed into a housing area, where the two shops were demolished, and several houses were built along with two connecting roads in the northwest and northeast.

Moreover, the large house and the gardens were knocked down, and several retirement houses were built in 2010. In contrast, only the bridge, the post office, and the River Stoke remained in the exact same condition for 80 years, although the primary school was added with two retirement houses in 2010.

Our blog post on IELTS Writing Task 1 Map provides further details on how to structure your answer for writing task 1. 

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IELTS Writing Task 1 Map Vocabulary: Grammar Tips

Precision in vocabulary and grammar is crucial for success in IELTS Writing Task 1, particularly when describing maps. 

Choosing the correct tense is key to accurately describing the changes and features shown in maps. Here’s how to effectively use language in your map descriptions.

• Present simple tense is ideal for describing the current layout of a map.

Example: “A library stands in the centre of the town.”

• Past simple tense is used to describe past states or changes.

Example: “The area was a vast forest in 1980.”

• The present perfect tense is useful for describing developments that have occurred up to the present.

Example: “The village has expanded considerably in the past decade.”

• Future simple tense should be used for proposed or planned changes.

Example: “A new highway will be built along the city’s northern edge.”

• The past perfect tense is applied when describing changes that happened before another event in the past.

Example: “By 2005, the old market had been replaced by a shopping mall.”

Strategies for Tackling Map Charts in Task 1

You should begin by closely examining the map provided. Identify significant changes or differences between the maps and consider periods, symbols, and icons.

Read below on how you can expertly proceed from here to craft a high-score-worthy essay answer.

1. Planning Your Response

Carefully plan your response by grouping related information based on similar locations or directions. This will help you create a logical and coherent description.

2. Writing Your Response

Structure your writing into the following three clear sections:

• Introduction: Paraphrase the task statement and briefly overview the maps.
• First Body Paragraph: Describe the features of the initial map, focusing on key elements.
• Second Body Paragraph: Compare the maps, highlighting major changes such as new constructions, removals, or modifications.

To Conclude

Mastering IELTS writing task 1 map vocabulary is essential for achieving a high score, especially with the overall average IELTS score for 2024 being 7.5.

By using precise directional language, descriptive terms, and correct verb tenses, you can effectively convey the changes, locations, and developments shown on maps, making your descriptions clear and accurate.

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