IELTS Writing Task 1: Maps
This task tests your ability to describe spatial change over time accurately and coherently, using appropriate location vocabulary and correct tenses rather than personal opinion.
What this question looks like
The map task is one of the four possible Writing Task 1 formats (with line graphs, bar/pie charts, and process diagrams). You are given two or occasionally three maps of the same location at different points in time, usually labelled with dates or as 'before' and 'after', and you must write a 150-word-minimum report describing how the area has changed or is planned to change. No opinion or reason for the changes is required, only accurate description.
Step-by-step approach
- 1Study both maps carefully before writing. Identify what existed before (the 'past' map, often labelled with a year or 'before') and what exists now or in the future (the 'present/planned' map). List every change: new buildings, removed features, roads added or widened, land use converted (e.g. farmland to housing).
- 2Group the changes into 2-3 categories rather than listing them one by one in a random order. Common groupings: changes to the north/south or east/west of the site, changes to infrastructure (roads, transport) versus changes to buildings/land use, or a simple chronological structure of 'in the past' then 'now/in the future'.
- 3Plan four paragraphs: introduction (paraphrase the task), overview (2-3 sentences naming the most significant overall changes, with no specific detail), and two body paragraphs each covering one group of changes with supporting detail such as location and approximate size.
- 4Use precise location and change-of-state language throughout: was replaced by, was converted into, was demolished, was constructed, was widened, was relocated to the north of, previously stood where. Always specify direction (north, south-east, along the coast) and use compass points or clear spatial reference points (adjacent to, opposite, to the west of).
- 5Write the overview before the detail. This is the single biggest score booster for map tasks: examiners reward a clear, accurate statement of the main trend of change (e.g. 'the area developed from an agricultural village into a residential and commercial district') even before any specific figures are given.
- 6Check tense consistency: use past simple for a 'before' map with only a past date, present simple for the 'now' map, and will/is planned to for a future map. Do not mix tenses incorrectly within one description of the same map.
Worked example
The two maps below show the town of Milbrooke in 1995 and in the present day. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
The two maps illustrate how the small town of Milbrooke has changed between 1995 and the present day. Overall, Milbrooke has developed from a small agricultural settlement centred on a single road into a larger town with expanded housing, retail and transport infrastructure. The most striking changes are the conversion of farmland to the east into residential areas and the construction of a bypass road to the south. In 1995, Milbrooke consisted mainly of a small residential area in the centre, a farm to the east, and a single road running north to south through the town connecting it to the neighbouring village of Aston. A small school stood to the north of the residential zone, and open fields surrounded the settlement on all sides. By the present day, the farmland to the east has been replaced by a housing estate, and a new shopping centre has been built directly opposite it. The original road through the town has been widened and a bypass now runs along the southern edge of Milbrooke, allowing through-traffic to avoid the town centre. In addition, the school has been extended, and a car park has been added to its western side. The fields that once surrounded the town have been reduced considerably as a result of this expansion.
The answer opens with a paraphrase, gives a clear overview naming the two most significant changes before any detail is given, then organises the body paragraphs by time period (1995, then present day) rather than a random feature list. It uses precise location language (to the east, along the southern edge, directly opposite) and a full range of change-of-state structures (has been replaced by, has been widened, has been extended) with consistent present perfect passive tense, and it avoids inventing any figures not shown on the map.
Try it yourself
Study the description of the two maps below, then write a full Task 1 report of at least 150 words following the four-paragraph structure: introduction, overview, and two body paragraphs.
The two maps below show the coastal village of Sanford in 1980 and in the present day. In 1980, Sanford had a small fishing harbour, a single row of houses along the coast road, and a church in the centre. Farmland lay to the south of the village. In the present day, the harbour has been enlarged into a marina, a hotel has been built next to the marina, the farmland to the south has been converted into a car park and a row of shops, and a new coastal path now runs along the seafront connecting the marina to the shops. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Common mistakes
- !Describing every single change in strict left-to-right order without any grouping or overview, which produces a shopping list with no coherence.
- !Omitting the overview paragraph entirely, or burying general trends inside the detailed body paragraphs where the examiner has to hunt for them.
- !Using vague location language such as 'near the thing' instead of precise terms like 'to the north of the river' or 'in the south-eastern corner of the town', which weakens Task Achievement.
- !Inventing numbers or measurements that are not shown on the map (maps rarely give exact figures, so do not fabricate percentages or distances).
- !Mixing verb tenses illogically, for example using future tense to describe a change between two past maps, or switching between passive and active voice inconsistently for the same type of change.
Quick quiz
1. Which element should appear immediately after the introduction in a map task response?
2. A map shows a town in 1990 and the same town today. Which sentence uses the most appropriate tense and structure?
3. Why is it risky to invent specific measurements or percentages when describing a map?
4. What is the best way to organise the body paragraphs when a map shows many changes across a whole town?
Practise this in a real IELTS test
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Take a free Writing testIELTS Writing Task 1: Maps — FAQ
Do I need to describe every single detail shown on both maps?
No. Select the most significant changes, roughly 6 to 10 depending on complexity, and group them logically. Trying to mention every minor label wastes time and produces a disorganised, list-like report rather than a well-structured overview.
What tenses should I use for a map with three time periods (past, present, future)?
Use past simple for changes between the earliest and middle map, present simple or present perfect for changes up to now, and 'will' or 'is planned/expected to' for the projected future map. Keep each tense consistent within its own time frame so the sequence of change is clear to the reader.
Is a map task marked differently from a bar chart or line graph task?
The same four criteria apply (Task Achievement, Coherence and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy), but Task Achievement for maps specifically rewards accurate spatial description and a clear overview of change rather than data trends, so location vocabulary and change-of-state verbs matter more than number-based language.