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IELTS Writing

Task 1: maps

Map tasks usually show a place at two or more times, such as a town centre before and after development. Your overview says what changed overall: more housing, fewer green spaces, a new road.

Use location language (to the north of, next to, opposite) and verbs of change in the passive: was replaced by, was converted into, was extended.

A simple structure

  1. Introduction (1 sentence): paraphrase what the visual shows, with the time period and units.
  2. Overview (2 sentences): the two or three most important features. No figures needed here; this is what examiners look for first.
  3. Body paragraph 1: the first group of key features, with figures and comparisons.
  4. Body paragraph 2: the second group, again with figures. No conclusion or opinion needed.

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How to answer

Reading Map Orientation

  • Check the north arrow before describing any position. Do not assume north is at the top.
  • When north is at the top, east is right, south is down, and west is left.
  • Use north-east, south-east, south-west, and north-west for diagonal positions.
  • Describe one feature in relation to another: “The pond is west of the hall.”
  • Use compass directions rather than left or right when the map’s orientation may be unfamiliar.
Example: Task 1 map: a site plan with north at the top. The library is in the north-west of the site. The pond is south-east of the library, and the entrance is at the southern edge.

Spotting Map Changes

  • Compare each feature across both maps before describing it.
  • Call a feature an addition if it appears only on the later map.
  • Call a feature a removal if it appears only on the earlier map.
  • A feature shown on both maps is unchanged, even if nearby features change.
Example: Task 1 maps: a park in 2005 and 2025. In 2005 it had an orchard, a pond and a footpath. In 2025 it had a café, a pond and the same footpath.. Overall, a café was added and the orchard was removed, while the pond and footpath remained unchanged.

Locating Map Features

  • Use “north, south, east” and “west of” to state where one feature is compared with another.
  • Use “in the centre” for a central feature and “in the north-west corner” for a corner location.
  • Add “just” or “immediately” to show that two features are very close.
  • Use “between” when a feature lies in the space separating two others.
Example: Task 1 map: a garden with a gate, pond, café and toilets. The main gate is at the southern entrance. The pond is in the centre, and the café is immediately east of it. The toilets are north-west of the café.

Comparing Map Periods

  • Use a brief overview to state the biggest change and any important feature that stayed the same.
  • Compare the periods directly with words such as “whereas”, “while” and “by contrast”.
  • Use the past simple for features at a finished date. Use the present perfect or present simple for changes up to now.
  • Group related changes together instead of describing each map separately.
  • Choose the most important changes; you do not need to mention every small feature.
Example: Task 1: maps of a riverside village in 1995 and today. The maps compare a riverside village in 1995 with its present layout. Overall, it has become more residential, while the river and bridge have stayed unchanged. In 1995, open fields covered much of the eastern side, but these have since been replaced by a housing estate. The old mill has also been converted into a café. By contrast, the bridge still crosses the river, and the small woodland remains. Thus, the main changes are new housing and the reuse of an existing building.

Practise

Short items from the ielts.coach lessons. Answer them, then check to see why each answer is right.

1On a map, the north arrow points to the right. Which direction is at the top edge?
2A map has north at the top. The kiosk is directly to the right of the entrance. In which direction is the kiosk from the entrance?
3A site had a garden, a pond and a path in 1990. In 2020, it had a café, a pond and the same path. Which summary is accurate?
4A map of a square shows a fountain and four trees in the earlier period. In the later period, it shows a fountain, two trees and a kiosk. Which feature was removed?
5A library is in the centre of a map. A clinic is directly north of it, and a bus stop is directly east of it. Which sentence locates the clinic correctly?
6A pond lies in the space separating a library and a café. Complete the sentence: “The pond is ___ the library and the café.”
7Maps show an area before and after factories were replaced by a park. The main road stayed the same. Which sentence gives the best overview?
8Which sentence compares a former feature with the present layout using accurate grammar?

Test hacks

Task 1 needs an overview
Write a sentence that sums up the main trends or the biggest differences, without numbers. Many writers skip it.
Why it works: An overview is essential for a high Task Achievement score.
Answer every part of Task 2
Underline each question in the prompt. A two-part question needs two clear answers.
Why it works: Missing part of the task limits your Task Response score, however good your English is.
Give Task 2 more time
Spend about 20 minutes on Task 1 (150+ words) and 40 minutes on Task 2 (250+ words).
Why it works: Task 2 counts for twice as much as Task 1 in your Writing score.
Practise with feedback on every answer

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More IELTS Writing guides

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Task 1: line graphs
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Task 1: tables
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Task 2: opinion essays
Task 2: discussion essays
Task 2: advantages and disadvantages
Task 2: problem and solution essays
Task 2: two-part questions
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