IELTS Writing Task 1

Describing Maps/Floor plans

 Aims of the session
You will be able to ……..

 plan a writing lesson

 analyze maps and identify key features

 write proper overviews for map questions

 write suitable body paragraphs for maps

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC

 Pre-writing
Read the question, analyze the
Ideas Time
graph/chart/table and identify the overview IT
information

Pre-teach topic-related vocabulary

Required IT Time
(Collocation partner, Definition partner, Matching, Classifying,
Language labelling, drawing, word bag, miming, word wall, cube etc.)

Work on a Model/Sample
(RCC, Running Dictation, Dictogloss, Jigsaw, unscramble,
Scaffolding IT Time
disappearing text, error correction, pair dictation)

Planning Plan for the writing Time

IT
(Template, Flow chart, Mindmap)
DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC
 While-writing
Students are supposed to convert the information into
sentnces and paragraphs so as to end up with an essay. Time
Writing IT

Individual/Pair/Group

Scaffold them to write gradually.

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC

 Post-writing
Feedback
Fixing the (Self- Peer- Teacher) (Indirect-Direct- Time
IT
problems
Metalinguistic)

Language Gearing up TA- CC- LR- GRA

Developm IT Time
ent

Edit (ask SS to edit their essays based on the IT Time

Self-
correction feedback and keep them in a portfolio)

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC

 Assessment & Assignment
Consolidation Rewriting about the same task IT Time

Development &
Extension Writing about a similar task IT Time

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC
DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC
Present 2030

DR. MOWLANA MIRI IELTS TTC

DR. MOW A MIRI IELT
 Describing maps and plans
There are three main types of map questions

1. Describe one map in the present day

2. Describe two maps: one in the present and one in the future
3. Describe two maps: one in the past and one in the present.
(The most common task)
Steps to describe a map for a high band score
1. Read the question carefully, underline the key parts, and decide on the tense
2. Start reading the first map from one specific point, and then go ahead clockwise/anticlockwise
3. Start reading the second map as you did for the first map and circle the changes (shift your
eyes between the maps)
4. Sort out the changes

Additions Removals Changes Expansions Transferals Unchanged

…………………… ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. …………………….

……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. …………………….
……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. …………………….

……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. ……………………. …………………….

Steps to describe a map for a high band score
5. Now look at the table carefully and summarise them in two to three points (overview)
6. Next, divide the map or key features into two parts; in this way you will report each part in one
body paragraph
7. Write the introduction: paraphrase the question and write the overview
8. Write the body paragraphs (use comparisons and proper tense)
9. Read the first draft and edit it.
 Essay Template
Paragraph Components

Introduction Paraphrase the Q + Overview

BP1 Report the first category (outer/East))

BP2 Report the second category (inner/West)

The maps below show how the town of Harborne changes from 1936 to 2007.
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparison
where relevant.
 Categorize the key features

Additions Removals Changes Expansions Decrease Transferals Unchanged

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

 Key features of the maps
Additions Removals Transformations Expansions Decrease Transferals Unchanged

………………… river in the cycle path to ………………… Trees in the ………………… the post
north east to a a road north west office
lake with
houses
………………… farmland to ………………… farmland ………………… library
a golf course was
eradicated
………………… government ………………… ………………… ………………… bank
offices to a
museum
flower shop
to a travel
agent
 overview
You need to decide on how it has changed:

 Commercially
 Residentially
 Industrially
 Recreationally
 Urbanized
 More modern

The development of commercial/recreational/industrial/residential etc features

Overview components
Overall, what stands out from the given information
is that the town became a much bigger residential area
with larger spaces for shopping and recreation. However,
the extent of the green areas was reduced to a large
degree.

Cohesive device Overview introduction Trend/comparison conjunction

…O…v…er…al…l, …. what stands out from the given information is that the town became a much

bigger ……r…es…id…en…ti…al .… area with larger spaces for shopping and recreation. However, the

extent of the green areas was ………re…du…ce…d…… to a large degree.

Overall, it is evident from the provided information that that town became a much bigger
r…es…id… area with larger spaces for shopping and …r…ec…re…a…tio…n….
en…ti…al.. Nonetheless, a
noticeable… …d…e…cli…ne….…. in the amount of the green areas could be witnessed.
 Paraphrase the question

The maps below show how the town of Harborne changes from 1936 to 2007.

portraying changes

Given are two maps …de…mo… . a series of ……alt…era…tion…s

nstr
…atin…g …
illustrating transformations
that Harborne underwent between 1936 and 2007.
 Some noticeable changes occurred to the suburb of the city.

The twisted bicycle track in the south west of the city was
cycle path to a road
converted into a roadway.
most of the trees cut
down
Besides, most of the trees in the north west were chopped down.

Converted into a lake Northwest of the city also underwent immense changes where
with many houses on
its shore
the river was totally transformed into a lake with a large number
of buildings on its shore.
Farm land in southeast
to a golf course The conversion of the farmland and governmental offices into a
golf course and a museum, respectively were the alterations
Governmental which the southeast of the city experienced.
buildings to a museum
 In the city center, despite the fact that some places like the post office, bank,
and library remained unchanged, a number of transformations could be clearly
the post office, bank, witnessed.
and library remained
intact
The sweet shop and butcher’s in the northern section were
Sweet shop and merged into a large supermarket.
butcher’s turned into a
supermarket

Another change that the city center underwent was the

Flower shop into a
travel agent
transformation of the flower shop into a travel agent.

Shopping center Moreover, a shopping center was constructed in the center of

instead of the free
space
the downtown, replacing most of the open space there.
Given are two maps illustrating a series of alterations that Harborne underwent
between 1936 and 2007. Overall, what stands out from the given information is that the
town became a much bigger residential area with larger spaces for shopping and
recreation. However, the extent of the green areas was reduced to a large degree.
Some noticeable changes occurred to the suburb of the city. The twisted bicycle track
in the south west of the city was converted into a roadway. Besides, most of the trees in
the north west were chopped down. Northwest of the city also underwent immense
changes where the river was totally transformed into a lake with a large number of
buildings on its shore. The conversion of the farmland and governmental offices into a
golf course and a museum, respectively were the alterations which the southeast of the
city experienced.
In the city center, despite the fact that some places like the post office, bank, and
library remained intact, a number of transformations could be clearly witnessed. The
sweet shop and butcher’s in the northern section were merged into a large supermarket.
Another change that the city center underwent was the transformation of the flower
shop into a travel agent. Moreover, a shopping center was constructed in the center of
the downtown, replacing most of the open space there.
 Practicing Required Language
Additions Removals Changes Expansions Decrease Transferals Unchanged

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

………………… ……………….. ………………… ………………… ………………… ………………… …………………

 Feature Verb Noun Example

constructed construction
added built building
Erected Erection
set up setting up
planted (trees) Planting
opened up (facilities) Opening
introduce introduction
cut down/chop down cutting down
removed replaced with replacement
knocked down knocking down
Demolished demolition
pulled down
Tear down/ torn down tearing down
converted into: conversion
Change into sth transformed into: transformation
turned into:
changed into: change
redeveloped into: r eMdIRIevIeELlToS pTTCment
DR. MOWLAN A
modify renovated repositioned
refurbished
Stayed the same remained the
same remained
unchanged
remained intact
Make larger or was/were left intact
wider … broadened
widened
extended
expanded
enlarged
Moved transferre
d
relocated
r e
e f
n u Despite the bombing, the house remained still intact.

o r
v b broadening
a i widening
t s extension
i h expansion
o m enlargement
n e transferring
n relocation
R
t repositioning
IELTS
 2001 2018

The house in the southwest of the city ………………………………………………………..

The ……………….. of the house in the southwest of the city was another change which
could be noticed.

IELTS
 2008 2020

Almost all trees to the west of the pool ………………………………………………..

The ……………….. of a large number of trees to the west of the pool was another change
which could be noticed.

IELTS
 1999 2030

A large number of high-rise buildings are supposed to be ……………. in the north of the city.

The ………………… of a large number of houses is one of the most significant changes which
could be vividly witnessed.

IELTS
 2015 2019

The old building next to the park ……… totally …………………..

The ………………… of the old house next to the park is one of the most significant changes
which could be vividly witnessed.

IELTS
 1991 Now

The park in the south west of the city ……………… …………………….

IELTS
Complete these sentences with the present perfect
form of the verb in brackets.
1 The city used to be very green, but it ………………… much more industrial. (become)
2 A new sports centre ………………… in the city centre. (construct)
3 The old stadium ………………… and replaced by a new one. (demolish)
4 Many significant changes ………………… in the city in the last ten years. (take place)
5 The old town hall ………………… and replaced by new flats. (knock down)
6 There used to be a park in the north of the city, but it ………………… by a supermarket. (replace)
7 The old houses ………………… to make way for new apartments. (pull down)
8 There didn’t use to be many skyscrapers, but several ………………… in the last few years. (build)
9 In the last 15 years, the city ………………… considerably, from a quiet market town into a much busier
small city. (change)
10 The disused factory in the south of the city ………………… a shopping mall. (turn into)

IELTS
Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct
prepositions of place from the alternatives.

a Several changes took place at / in / on the town of Northgate.

b North of the town, there is a lake surrounded in / of / by
trees.
c A number of new houses were built beside /at / on the railway line.
d There was a large industrial area located on / in / at the north.
e A new railway was constructed which ran from / at / in north to south.

IELTS
 Useful structures
Comparison

Reduced/RC

Passive voice

Used to

Expressing purpose

The shopping mall which used to be located in the center of the city was
demolished to make way for a new university.

IELTS
 Agree...................Disagree?
1. Using informal language and contractions is absolutely forbidden.
2. We can mention the details in the overview.
3. Using personal pronouns is preferred over passive structures
like ‘It could be noticed that’.
4. All the key features in the maps must be reported.
5. The features should be categorized systematically to be
presented in the body paragraphs.

IELTS
 Agree...................Disagree?
6. Using comparative structures to compare and contrast the key
features contributes to a higher score.
7. Using too many advanced structures such adjective and adverbial
clauses contributes to a higher score.
8. We can interpret the data, give reasons and express our own personal opinion.
9. The features should be categorized systematically to be presented in the body
paragraphs.
10. Writing a summary is a must.
11. Skipping one line between the paragraphs is better.

IELTS
The Diagrams below show a small local museum and its surroundings in 1957
and 2007. Summarize the information by selecting main features etc.

IELTS
 Sample Answer

Given are two maps depicting the changes made to a museum

building and its grounds from 1957 to 2007. Overall, the
building became much larger and the number of trees was
noticeably reduced.
Looking first at the grounds of the museum, the picture in 2007 shows that all the trees
alongside the road were cut sown, and also most of those to the left and to the rear of
the museum. The driveway leading up to the museum was removed, too. To the
southeast of the museum, the green space was replaced with car park.
In terms of the building itself, the entrance has been moved from the middle of the
building to the left-hand side of the building, where a new museum shop was opened
up. From there, visitors can enter into a new reception room. Opposite the reception
room, a cafe was set up replacing the museum storage room. The National History
exhibition room was turned into a local history room while a special exhibitions room
and an education center were added to the north of the building.

IELTS
The forest to the south of the river was cut down.
A golf course was constructed to the north of the airport.
The houses in the south-west of the town were demolished.
The green fields to the north-west of the city were redeveloped as a park.
The airport in the centre of the city was relocated to the north-east of the river.
The school to the south-east was knocked down and a new one built to the east of the
forest.

IELTS
The two maps below show road access to a city hospital in 2007 and 2010. Summarise
the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make
comparisons where relevant.
• Given are two maps depicting a series of changes applied to the road access to a city
hospital in 2010 compared to its state in 2007. Overall, it is quite evident from the
provided information that whilst more facilities such as a new parking lot as well as
a bus station were constructed, the main roads to the hospital were not radically
altered.

• First and foremost, in 2010 a public parking was built to the east of the hospital
whereas three years before both people and the staff used to park their vehicles
alongside each other. This parking lot was located to the right side of the Hospital
Road which was exclusively utilized by the hospital personnel. Moreover, the six bus
stops on both sides of the Hospital Road were demolished and a new integrated bus
station was established to the west of the Hospital Road which was connected to
the two newly-established roundabouts at the end and beginning of the Hospital
Road.

• What is more, the main streets underwent some modifications. To be more precise,
the crossroads at the beginning and end of the Hospital Road were replaced with
two roundabouts, giving extra exit roads to the bus station. The only alteration
made to the Ring Road surrounding the hospital was an exit, which made
accessibility to the newly-established public parking more convenient for people.
• (Farzane Sedaghat)
• Given are two maps depicting a series of alterations applied to the road access to
the City Hospital from 2007 to 2010. Overall, it is quite evident from the provided
information that multiple features such as roundabouts and a bus station were
added to the hospital road. The Ring Road surrounding the main building of the
hospital, however, remained intact.

• It could be easily observed that two roundabouts were erected at the beginning and
the end of the Hospital Road, which facilitated connection between Ring Road,
hospital road and the new bus station. Moreover, the old fashioned bus stops
located on both sides of the Hospital Road were demolished. A bus station was,
nevertheless, built on the west of the Hospital Road.

• Furthermore, the car park to the south of the building, which was previously used
by not only the staff but also the public was converted into an exclusive car park for
the personnel of the hospital. What is more, a huge public parking lot was
established to the east of the main construction providing far more space for car
owners.
• (Amirhosein Homayouni)
 Useful
Accommodate vocabulary
New students may be accommodated in halls of residence.
There wasn't enough space to accommodate the files.

Accommodation here's a shortage of cheap accommodation (= places to live) . We have first and second class
accommodation (= seats) on this flight.

Facilities shopping facilities/medical facilities/sports facilities/entertainment facilities

Amenities The council has some spare cash which it proposes to spend on public amenities.
The conditions are very poor and overcrowded, as there is a total lack of the most basic amenities.

Residential area Opponents claim the development is too near residential areas.

undergo changes/ The country has undergone massive changes recently.

transformations After the accident, his personality underwent a complete transformation.
Make way/room for Several houses were demolished to make way for a new road.
 Useful
vocabulary
Roads, Railway Lines, to run, a stretch of, along, across
Rivers
A new stretch of railway was built running directly north.
modernize here's a shortage of cheap accommodation (= places to live) . We have first and second class
accommodation (= seats) on this flight.

industrialize shopping facilities/medical facilities/sports facilities/entertainment facilities

urbanize The council has some spare cash which it proposes to spend on public amenities.
The conditions are very poor and overcrowded, as there is a total lack of the most basic amenities.

Residential area Opponents claim the development is too near residential areas.

undergo changes/ The country has undergone massive changes recently.

transformations After the accident, his personality underwent a complete transformation.