Structure
How to describe a map
- →Find the compass and the key, then list what was added, removed, moved, enlarged or converted between the two dates.
- →Overview: the two or three biggest changes and the overall character (more residential, more developed, greener).
- →Body: one paragraph per part of the map (north and centre, then south and east), describing what each area looked like before and after.
- →Location language: in the north-west corner, along the coast, to the east of, opposite, adjacent to, was replaced by, was extended, was converted into.
The full method, with scoring and common mistakes, is in the IELTS Task 1 map guide.
1–32 of 64
Maps: all sample answers
- A comparison of the floor plans for typical Japanese and American offices
- A detailed layout plan for the development of a new town
- A diagram illustrating the layout of a proposed town development plan
- Changes at West Park Secondary School between 1950 and 2010
- Changes in road access and facilities at City Hospital between 2007 and 2010
- Changes in student accommodation building layout between 2010 and now
- Changes in the industrial village of Stamdorf between 1985 and 2015
- Changes in the layout and facilities of a park since 1980
- Changes in the layout of a school library over five years
- Changes in the town of Westley between 1815 and today
- Changes in the village of Stokeford between 1930 and 2010
- Changes to a region after the construction of a hydroelectric dam
- Changes to the ground floor layout of a building over time
- Changes to the ground floor layout of an art gallery
- Changes to the layout and facilities of Riverage College over thirty years
- Changes to the Liverton docks area between 1980 and today
- Changes to the Queen Mary Hospital site between 1960 and 2000
- Changes to the South Wing of Walton Museum between 2008 and 2012
- Comparison of a bookstore layout between the year 2000 and now
- Comparison of a college cafe layout before and after redesign
- Comparison of a health center layout between 2005 and today
- Comparison of Bell Hill Farm in 1976 and 2006
- Comparison of college site layout between 2006 and present day
- Comparison of current airport layout and proposed future redevelopment plans
- Comparison of current layout and future development plans for Islip
- Comparison of Grange Park layout between 1920 and the present day
- Comparison of Hunderstone town current layout and proposed future development plan
- Comparison of museum floor plan changes between 1998 and 2008
- Comparison of Pacific Railway Station layout between 1998 and now
- Comparison of Park Layout Changes Between 1980 and the Present
- Comparison of Porth Harbour development between the year 2000 and today
- Comparison of the current college layout and the 2020 redevelopment plan
Frequently asked questions
How do I describe an IELTS map in Task 1?+
Overview: how much the area changed and what stayed the same. Use location language: to the north of, adjacent to, replaced by. Group changes by area or by type, such as housing, roads and green space.
What band are these map sample answers?+
Each of the 64 map samples has a Band 8 model answer. The chart is redrawn with its data, and every figure in the answer comes from that chart.
How many words and how long for Task 1?+
At least 150 words in about 20 minutes. 170 to 200 words is the safe range; leave 40 minutes for Task 2, which carries twice the marks.
How should I organise a two-map answer?+
By area of the map, not by date. Describe the northern half before and after, then the southern half, so each paragraph compares directly.
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Other Task 1 chart types
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