IELTS Writing Map Task 1: How to Answer
The IELTS Writing Task 1 map task requires you to analyse and interpret visual information depicting changes in a particular geographical area over time. You have 20 minutes to do this and are usually given a minimum word limit of 150 words.
Here are important points to help you ace this task:
- You may be provided with two maps illustrating the same location at different points, such as the before and after of a society/location that has changed over time. For such maps, paying attention to the tenses is a must. Use past tense for the old map and present tense for the current one.
- You may also find maps that showcase various sections of a location. It could include changes in infrastructure, land use, population density, transportation networks, and natural features.
- For instance, one map might show you a rural landscape with low development, and the other may show the same area transformed into a bustling city with major developments. You must analyse these maps and draw comparisons between them in your summary.
- The key to solving a map task is identifying the significant differences between the two maps. What has changed? In your description, you can write about major changes, such as the expansion of residential areas or the construction of highways or railways that didn’t exist before.
Below are some strategies to structure your essay.
Structuring your summary
Follow these steps to ensure your summary is flowing well and is organised. Try to cover as many elements as you can without going overboard.
- Introduction: Paraphrase the task prompt and provide context for the maps. You can mention the location, key features, and the map's purpose.
- Overview: Provide a concise overview of the main features and changes depicted in the map. Highlight any significant developments, expansions, or changes in infrastructure or geography. Keep this section brief and focus on summarising the most significant changes.
- Detailed Analysis: Break down the information presented in the maps by examining specific areas or aspects. Describe the spatial relationships between different locations, landmarks, or features on the maps. Identify any patterns, trends, or developments over time. This may include residential areas, commercial districts, industrial zones, roads, railways, airports, rivers, forests, and parks.
- Conclusion: Summarise the main features, changes, and developments depicted in the maps. Review and finalise your answers.
IELTS Writing Map Task 1: Sample Answer
Feeling prepared? Try out this IELTS Writing Map Task 1 and compare your answer with our sample answer.
Sample Answer:
The map illustrates the development of Ryemouth village over the past twenty-five years. It showcases significant changes in accommodation, the decline of the fishing industry, and the addition of sports facilities.
In 1995, to the south of the village, there was a thriving fishing industry with a port and fish market, accompanied by a small cafe. Across the road were five shops and a hotel, while farmland and a park were in the northeast. The main housing area was in the northwest, with twelve houses, including four accessed via a side street.
In the present-day map, the fishing facilities have been replaced by four apartments, and the shops have been transformed into restaurants. The cafe and hotel remain, with the addition of parking facilities for the hotel. A golf course has replaced the farmland, and tennis courts have replaced the forest park.
Some old houses have survived the massive development, and new ones have been built along with a new road, with two adjacent houses.
