In short: Describe a map by comparing the two time periods and reporting what changed. Check the dates first to fix your tense, write a figure-free overview of the overall change (e.g. the area became more developed), then describe the additions, removals and replacements using the passive and precise location language.
A map question in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 usually shows the same place at two different times and asks you to describe how it changed — a town that was developed, an island that was built on, a hospital site that was redesigned. The examiner is testing whether you can describe location accurately and report changes using the right tenses. This guide gives you a reliable method and the exact language you need.
What the examiner wants
The four Task 1 marking criteria reward a particular skill on a map:
- Task Achievement — an overview of the overall change (did the area become more developed, more urban, greener, busier?), plus accurate description of the specific changes.
- Coherence & Cohesion — organising your description sensibly: by area (north, south, centre) or by type of change (what was added, what was removed, what stayed).
- Lexical Resource — location and direction language, and verbs of change.
- Grammatical Range — the passive voice for changes (the forest was replaced by housing) and the correct tense for the time periods shown.
A reliable method
- Check the dates first. They decide your tenses (see below). This is the single most common place to lose marks.
- Compare the two maps feature by feature. What was added? What was removed? What was replaced or relocated? What stayed the same?
- Note the overall direction of change — usually that the area became more developed or more urbanised. This is your overview.
- Write the introduction by paraphrasing the prompt — don't copy it.
- Write a one- or two-sentence overview capturing the big-picture change, with no detail.
- Write the body organised by area or by type of change, using location language and the passive.
Choosing the right tense
- Two past years (e.g. 1990 and 2010): past simple passive — a marina was built, the trees were cut down.
- Past and present (e.g. 1990 and now): present perfect passive — a marina has been built, the trees have been removed.
- Now and a future year (e.g. now and 2040): future forms — a marina will be built, the area is going to be developed.
The language that scores
Location and direction:
- in the north / south-east / centre of the area
- to the north of, on the outskirts of, adjacent to, alongside the river
- in the top right-hand corner, opposite the school, surrounded by
Verbs of change (use the passive):
- Added: was built, was constructed, was set up, were planted
- Removed: was demolished, was knocked down, was cleared, were cut down
- Changed: was replaced by, was converted into, was relocated to, was extended, was widened
- No change: remained, was retained, was left unchanged
A useful pattern combines location with a change verb:
The woodland to the east of the river was cleared and replaced by a large car park.
A worked sample answer
Prompt: The two maps below show an island before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
The two maps show a small island before and after it was developed for tourism.
Overall, the island was transformed from an undeveloped natural space into a tourist resort, with accommodation, a restaurant and access by sea added, although the beach in the west was left untouched.
Before development, the island was largely empty, covered by trees and bordered by a beach to the west. There were no buildings or transport links of any kind.
After development, a reception building was constructed in the centre, surrounded by clusters of accommodation to the east and west, which were connected by footpaths. A restaurant was built to the north of the reception, and a pier was added on the southern coast to allow visitors to arrive by boat. The western beach, however, remained unchanged, with only a swimming area marked out in the sea nearby.
This answer states the overall transformation in the overview, organises the detail by location, and uses the past simple passive consistently because both maps are in the past.
Common mistakes to avoid
- The wrong tense. Check the dates before you write a single sentence.
- Using the active voice. "They built a restaurant" is weaker than "a restaurant was built" — the change is the focus, not who made it.
- No overview, or an overview full of specific features. The overview = the overall change.
- Vague location. "Near the top" is weak; "to the north of the reception building" is precise.
- Describing each map separately instead of comparing them. The marks are in the change.
Frequently asked questions
What tense should I use for a map? It depends on the dates: past simple for two past years, present perfect for past-to-present, and future forms for present-to-future. Check the dates before you write.
What goes in a map overview? The overall change — did the area become more developed, greener or busier? — without listing specific features.
Should I describe each map separately? No — compare them. The marks are in the changes (what was added, removed or replaced), not in describing each map alone.
How do I describe locations precisely? Use location language such as "to the north of", "on the outskirts of", "adjacent to" and "opposite" — not vague phrases like "near the top".
Practise this
You now have the method. The fastest way to make it automatic is to write under guidance and get feedback on your tenses and location language. Work through the free IELTS Writing Task 1 lessons — every lesson is hand-built by a teacher, and you get instant examiner-aligned feedback on what you write.