IELTS_Ms.

Vy IELTS
IELTS WRITING TASK 1
MAPS

IELTS WRITING TASK 1 1

IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Basic Structure

• praphrase the question using synonyms

The first
paragraph

• make one or two general statements about the map.

• you should describe the maps generally and write about
Overview the most noticable differences between the two maps.

• Three to four sentences in each paragraph about

two main specific changes that have occurred.
bodies

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Introduction
To write an introduction to a map, there are lots of ways. However, to make it easier, you can follow the
pattern below.

The map(s) show(s) changes in the layout of House name/ Town name over the period of….years starting
from …..

• Change = modification =alteration

• Period = course = timeframe

1. Directional languages

Using prepositions in Maps:

• In the North/ To the North

• In the center of the map
• At the corner of…..

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS

Notes
- The difference between ‘to’ and ‘in/on/at’
• “ B is to the west/left of A”=> B is not a part of A (Vietnam is to the west of Laos)
• “B is in the south-west/on the bottom right-hand corner of A”=> B is a part of A.(
Vietnam is in the south-east of Asia)

Here is how they are different:

A
B is in the south/at the bottom of A.
B

A is to the west/left of B.
A B
B is to the east/right of A.

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
2. Languages to describe changes

Item How it changed Meaning Examples

Buildings Built, constructed, erected Được xây lên A power plant was
constructed to the east of the
mine.
Renovated, reconstructed, Được xây lại The university library was
modernized complexly renovated.
Converted, transformed (into Được biến đổi The playground was
something) thành converted into a large car
park.
Replaced (by something) Dược thế chỗ bởi…. The garden was replaced by a
large car park.
Relocated (to somewhere) Được di dời tới.. The student hall was
relocated to the east of the
university.
Extended, expanded Được mở rộng The hotel was greatly
extended to a total of 70
rooms.
Demolished, knocked down, Bị dỡ bỏ The warehouse was
flattened demolished and replaced by
a garage.
Trees/Forest Cut down, chopped down Bị chặt hạ The forest on the western end
Cleared (to make way for) Bị xóa sổ để dành of the island were chopped
chỗ cho… down to make way for a
hotel.
Planted Được trồng Many palms were planted
around the villa.
Bridge,port, Constructed, built, erected Được xây lên A bridge across the river was
road, erected.
railway,ect Extended, expanded, widened Được mở rộng The main road was widened
to meet the increasing
demand.
Reopened Được khôi phục The old railway alongside the
river has been reopened.
Amentities Opened up, set up, established Được xây dựng A new theme park was
opened just opposite the
shopping mall.
Developed, expanded Được mở rộng The cinema was rapidly
expanded.

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Exercise
Describe 5 main changes in the map of the city X, from 1995 until now.

• The fishing port (in the south of the area) -> demolished
The fishing port in the south of the area was demolished
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• In the North-Easten corner of the area, the farmland-> golf course

In the North-Easten corner of the area, the farmland was knocked down to make room for golf course
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• In the Western part of the town, the housing area-> expanded

In the Western part of the town, the housing area was expanded
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• In the East of the town, the forest park-> tennis court

In the East of the town, the forest park is cleared to be replaced by tennis course
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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
General changes

Overall, the most striking feature is that Town’s name become more (densely
populated/urbanized/developed) over the given period of time, moving away from old land usage
toward new land usage with more industrial purposes/entertaining places/recreational places (the
most common items on the maps)
Several purposes of using land:

• Residential purpose/usage +more housing units/houses

• Industrial purpose + factories/industrial zones
• Educational purpose + schools/universities
• Agricultural purpose + farmland/paddy fields
• Commercial purpose +Companies/enterprises/shops
• Entertaining purpose + golf course/ tennis court/ shopping malls
If you can’t point out the main changes of the area, you can find the direction or place that experienced
most changes.

Practice: write an overview for the map above

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Structures in Maps
1. Using Relative Clause
Ex: The building, which was constructed in 1995, was replaced by a new supermarket.
2. Using the former and the latter to describe changes in TWO items.
Ex: There are substantial modifications to A and B, with the former being replaced by A and the latter being
destroyed to make way for B.
3. Using “make way/room for”
Ex: The building built in 1995, was demolished to make way for a new supermarket.
Note: Do not reduce the relative clauses if your Task 1 essay seems to be short!
4. Using nouns instead of verbs
Ex: The buiding has been expanded since 1985. -> There has been an expansion of the building since 1995.

IELTS WRITING TASK 1 7

IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Maps for practice
The maps show the changes that took place in Youngville in New Zealand over a 25-year period from 1980
to 2005.
Summarize the changes and make comparisons where necessary.

Introduction: ............................................................................................................................................................
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Overview:
There are some significant changes that you should notice
1. More factories +warehouses + skyscrapers in the south
2. A new marina + an extension of the railway
Bodies:
It is apparently divided into two parts in this map, the upper and the lower part. Therefore, you can put them
into two body paragraphs easily, but you do remember to attach the specific position of each item as
describing. ................................................................................................................................................................
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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Exercise 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where
relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Exercise 3 After and before xd hydro dam

The maps below show the changes in a town after the construction of a hydroelectric power dam.

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Exercise 4

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IELTS_Ms.Vy IELTS
Exercise 5
The plans below show a student room for two people and a student room for one person at an Australian
university.

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