IELTS Writing Task 1: Describing Maps & Floor Plans

Is the thought of describing a map or a floor plan in the IELTS exam making you nervous? You aren’t alone. While bar charts and line graphs are common, the “Map” task often catches students off guard.

However, maps are actually one of the easiest tasks to score high on if you know the specific vocabulary and grammar required. This lesson will break down exactly how to approach this task, the “transformation” language you need, and how to structure a Band 9 answer.

1. Understanding the Task

In this task, you will usually be presented with two maps of the same location (a town, a university, a floor plan of a house) at two different times.

Your goal is to describe the changes.

You generally encounter three scenarios:

Past vs. Present: (e.g., A village in 1980 vs. the same village today).
Past vs. Future: (e.g., A town today vs. a proposed development for next year).
Two Past Dates: (e.g., A library in 2000 vs. the library in 2010).

Crucial Note: You are not just describing what is there; you are describing transformations.

2. The Golden Grammar Rule: Passive Voice

The most important grammatical tool for Maps is the Passive Voice.

Why? Because maps don’t show who built the new school or who cut down the trees. They just show that it happened.

Active: The workers built a new bridge. (Incorrect focus)
Passive: A new bridge was built. (Correct focus)

Choosing the Right Tense

Simple Past: Used for completed actions in the past (e.g., In 2010, the cinema was demolished.)
Present Perfect: Used when comparing the past to the present (e.g., The park has been replaced by a car park.)
Future Forms: Used for proposed plans (e.g., A new wing is going to be constructed.)

3. Essential Vocabulary: The Language of Change

To get a high band score for Lexical Resource, you need varied vocabulary. Avoid repeating “changed” or “built.” Categorize your vocabulary by the type of change:

A. Expansion (Making things bigger)

Expanded / Enlarged / Extended / Widened
- Example: “The main road was widened to accommodate more traffic.”
- Example: “The shopping mall has been expanded.”

B. Removal (Taking things away)

Demolished / Knocked down / Flattened / Removed / Chopped down (for trees)
- Example: “The old warehouses were demolished to make way for flats.”
- Example: “The forest to the north was cut down.”

C. Addition (Building new things)

Constructed / Erected / Built / Introduced / Added
- Example: “A new skyscraper was erected in the city center.”
- Example: “A cycle lane has been introduced along the river.”

D. Transformation (Changing the function)

Converted / Redeveloped / Replaced / Modernized / Renovated
- Example: “The factory was converted into an art gallery.”
- Example: “The open market was replaced by a supermarket.”

4. Describing Location (Prepositions)

Don’t just say “on the left” or “on the right.” Use compass points and precise prepositions to sound more academic.

Compass Points: North, South, East, West, North-East, South-West.
- Use: “To the north of the river…” or “In the north-west corner of the park…”
Relative Location:
- Adjacent to (Next to)
- Opposite (Across from)
- Parallel to (Running alongside)
- In the vicinity of (Near)

5. The Perfect Structure (4 Paragraphs)

Stick to this proven structure to ensure you cover all points clearly and logically.

Paragraph 1: The Introduction

Paraphrase the question. Do not copy the question word-for-word.

Question: “The maps below show the changes in the village of Stokeford.”
Your Intro: “The provided maps illustrate the development of Stokeford village over a period of 80 years, focusing on infrastructure and housing.”

Paragraph 2: The Overview

This is the most important paragraph for your score. Summarize the main general trends without listing specific details.

Ask yourself: Did the area become more urban? Did it become more green? Did the traffic system change?
Example: “Overall, the village witnessed significant modernization. While the agricultural land was largely removed, residential areas and transport infrastructure were heavily expanded.”

Paragraph 3: Specific Details (Feature A)

Group similar changes together. For example, focus on the North side of the map or specific buildings.

Example: “In the northern section, the old farmland was completely redeveloped. The farmhouse was knocked down and replaced by a factory.”

Paragraph 4: Specific Details (Feature B)

Describe the remaining changes, such as the South side or transport changes.

Example: “Regarding transport, the main road running through the center was paved. Furthermore, a new bridge was constructed across the river to the east.”

6. Pro Tips for High Scores

Don’t describe everything: If a building didn’t change, you can mention it briefly to provide context (e.g., “The church remained unchanged throughout the period”), but focus on the changes.
Time Management: You only have 20 minutes. Spend 3–4 minutes planning, 12–13 minutes writing, and 3 minutes checking.
Word Count: Aim for 160–180 words. Less than 150 is a penalty; over 200 is a waste of time.
Variety: Do not start every sentence with “The…” or “In 2010…”. Use variety: “Relocated to the south was the library…”

Summary Table: Quick Vocabulary Reference

Change Type	Verbs (Passive Voice)	Nouns
Building	Built, Constructed, Erected	Construction, Development
Destroying	Demolished, Flattened, Removed	Demolition, Destruction
Changing	Converted, Renovated, Modernized	Conversion, Modernization
Moving	Relocated, Moved, Shifted	Relocation
Expanding	Expanded, Extended, Enlarged	Expansion, Extension