IELTS Writing Task 1: Maps
Study Guide & Practice Module
🎓 Strategy & Band 9 Vocabulary
The Golden Rule: Maps are about location and change. You must use directional language (North, South, East, West) instead of "top", "bottom", "left", or "right".
Essential Vocabulary
- Demolished / Knocked down (Buildings)
- Constructed / Erected (New buildings)
- Converted into (Change of purpose)
- Replaced by (One thing takes another's place)
- Extended / Expanded (Made bigger)
- Chopped down / Cleared (Trees/Forests)
- To the north of...
- In the south-west corner...
- Situated adjacent to...
- Located opposite...
- Running parallel to...
- The area witnessed significant development.
- The layout remained largely unchanged.
- A complete transformation occurred.
- The infrastructure was modernized.
Changes in Sidebar Town
The maps below show the changes that have taken place in the town of Sidebar between 1990 and 2020.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Model Answer (Band 9.0)
~170 wordsThe two maps compare the layout of the town of Sidebar in 1990 with its layout thirty years later in 2020, illustrating significant modernization and development.
[Overview] Overall, the town underwent a dramatic transformation, with residential and commercial facilities replacing natural features such as farmland and forests. The educational and housing infrastructure was also expanded significantly during this period.
[Details: North & West] In 1990, the north-western area was occupied by a dense forest, but by 2020, this had been cleared to make way for a large golf course. While the park in the north-east remained largely unchanged, the school located to the west of the main road was extended, occupying a larger footprint than before.
[Details: South & East] The southern part of the town also witnessed major changes. The farmland in the south-west was converted into a car park. Furthermore, the small shops in the south-east corner were demolished and replaced by a large supermarket. Finally, the individual houses situated to the east of the main road were redeveloped into a modern apartment complex.