MAPS

Organization & Expectations

Example
The maps below show the changes that took place at the seaside town of Templeton between 1990 and 2005.
 Introduction
The introduction has 2 sentences.
1. Paraphrase the question – Signpost language + what / where / when (paraphrase the question)
Signpost language –

• The maps show ...

• The maps illustrate ...
Question – The maps below show the changes that took place [what] at the seaside town of
Templeton [where] between 1990 and 2005 [when].
Paraphrased – The maps illustrate the developments in the coastal town of Templeton over a 15-year
period starting in 1990.

2. General trend – Signpost language + the general changes in the maps

Signpost language –

• Overall, ...
Structure –
Overall, ... (passive voice verb)…from…(adjective)…to…(adjective)…with…(comparative
phrase)
Adjectives – Urban, Rural, Industrial, Residential, Recreational, Commercial, Financial
General trend – Overall, the seaside resort was transformed from a greener residential area to one with
more buildings and infrastructure.

Example Introduction
The maps illustrate the developments in the coastal town of Templeton over a 15-year period starting in 1990.
Overall, the seaside resort was transformed from a greener residential area to one with more buildings and
infrastructure.
 Body
What / WHERE / When / Who / How / How long / Why

WHERE
When
Who (subject)
Object (What) + Passive voice + Adjuncts
Verb How
How long
“To be”
+
Past Participle Why

Verbs – removal verbs vs. placement verbs

1. Removal verbs – for objects (X) on reference map 2. Placement verbs – for objects (Y) latest map

ex. objects in 1990 map ex. objects in 2005 map

… object was/were removed … object was/were planted

… object was/were chopped down … object was/were constructed
… object was/were cleared away … object was/were built
… object was/were brought down … object was/were erected
… object was/were cut down … object was/were installed
… object was/were demolished … object was/were extended
… object was/were knocked down … object was/were placed
… object was/were established
… object was/were put in

Notes –
Although maps generally use passive voice, try to have 1 or 2 sentences that use active voice in order to show diverse
range in grammar. This can be done by using ‘(to) make way for…’

Examples –

• X made way for Y.

• X made way for the development/construction of Y.
• X was/were removed and made way for the development of Y.
• X was/were removed to make for Y.
• X was/were removed to make way for the development/construction of Y.

When provided with two maps (ex. one map from 1990 and the other from 2005) you can either group B1 and B2
according to time (ex. B1 = 1990, B2 = 2005) or location (ex. B1 = west of the river, B2 = east of the river).

I suggest the location grouping. Then use the 1990 map as reference for objects (X) that were removed, while using
the 2005 map as reference for objects (Y) that were placed. I also suggest the body paragraphs describe the latest map
(ex. 2005, not 1990) in which B1 is one side of side of the map and B2 is the other.
 Prepositional phrases – locational / directional vs. cardinal
STRUCTURE – preposition + article + noun

1. Locational / Directional – 2. Cardinal – north, south, east, west

…next to the school …north of the river

…nearby the park …northeast of the stadium

…opposite the airport …to the north of the apartment block

…next to the train tracks

…along the beach Notes –

…between the park and the stadium • Only use ‘top, bottom, left, right’ on floor plans,
NOT maps
…at the mouth of the river
• Know the difference between ‘to’ for direction and
…through the woodlands ‘in’ for location

Notes – Nouns
Nouns in a map can be used 2 different ways –

1. Use the noun as the object in the passive voice

Passive voice = object (noun) + passive voice (‘to be’ + past participle)

Example –

A ferry was built.

2. Use the noun as the prepositional object in the prepositional phrase (i.e., a reference point)

Prepositional phrase = preposition + article + prepositional object (noun)

Example –

…next to the train tracks.

Note – Use prepositional objects (nouns) linearly so you won’t have to repeat prepositional phrases –

Example – In the east of the city → ferry → train tracks → railway stations → factory

In the east of the city, a ferry was built next to the train tracks. Meanwhile, a railway station was built
north of the ferry. Next to the ferry, along the river, a factory was built.

Note – in the above example, we know that all the nouns are “in the east of the city” because all of the nouns are relative
to “ferry”, which is the original reference point that we stated as being “in the east of the city”.
 COMMON MISTAKES – TO vs. IN

Example – to the east vs. in the east

Another issue is the subtle differences we encounter with cardinal directions. You can say ‘to the east of
(noun)’ or ‘in the east’. However, these actually have different meanings. We use ‘to’ for a direction you must
go toward, while ‘in’ is a location

Look at this image and decide which is the correct sentence –

1. The dance studios are located to the east of the sports hall.
2. The dance studios are located in the east of the sports hall.

Which one is correct?

The right answer is #1. We can only say ‘located in the east of the sports hall’ if they are actually inside it.

For example –
 Describing vs. Comparing

Notes –
Remember the main point of maps is to describe the changes, but having a comparative and
superlative can improve your range.
You do NOT need to overload your report with comparatives and superlatives. Comparisons are just
a grammar point to show your range in grammar, so all you have to do is show the examiner you
can accurately use comparative and superlative structures.

Examples –
• The most striking change was in the center of the park where the fountain has been removed
in favour of a rose garden.
• The most significant construction on the east side of the river was the appearance of two more
large buildings along the southern coast.
• More facilities were added to the northern area of the park.

One way you can make sure to include a comparative and/or a superlative is to put one in the
overview.

Examples –
• Overall, the seaside resort was transformed from a greener residential area to one with more
buildings and infrastructure.
• Overall, more businesses and more housing had been built along with a greater number of
public facilities.
• Overall, the most obvious changes occurred on the west side of the river in which it went from
a more residential area with trees to one with more commercial businesses.

Resources for comparatives and superlatives –

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives and Adverbs; Articles; Common Expressions That Show Similarity – PDF

https://www.cambridge.org/us/files/2515/5024/1612/Grammar_and_Beyond_Essentials_4_U07.pdf

Comparatives and Superlatives of Adjectives worksheet with answer key – PDF

http://kfrclasses.pbworks.com/f/Comparatives%20Superlatives%20worksheet%20with%20answers.pdf
 The maps below show the changes that took place at the seaside town of Templeton between 1990 and 2005.

Sample Answer
• Subjects
• Active voice verbs
• Passive voice verbs
• Prepositional phrases (WHERE)
• Comparatives/Superlatives

The maps illustrate the developments in the coastal town of Templeton over a 15-year period starting in 1990.
Overall, the seaside resort was transformed from a greener residential area to one with more buildings and
infrastructure.
On the west side of the river, which divides the town into two parts, there were three new buildings constructed,
replacing some houses and trees north and east of the lake. Moreover, some houses sprang up in the area
between two main roads running east to west. The most significant construction on this side of the river was the
appearance of two more large buildings along the southern coast. A supermarket to the north of these
buildings and a new road separating them were also added by 2005.
To the east of the river, an airport was established northwest of the school and new houses were built northeast
of the hospital. All the houses and trees in the south were cleared to make way for a factory and a ferry in the
southeast corner of the town. At the mouth of the river, a bridge was constructed and the railway was extended
along the coast across the new bridge.

(195 words)

15-minute YouTube lesson on MAPS - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMf3XhxdXas

 EXAMPLES
The diagram shows Lakeside development between years 2000 and 2009.

https://eltecenglish.com/2017/08/05/ielts-academic-task-1-lakeside-development/

https://ieltsfocus.com/2018/06/13/ielts-floor-plan/
 https://ieltsfocus.com/2020/02/03/ielts-diagrams-model-answer/

https://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-writing-samples/ielts-reports-band-8/ielts-report-topic-comparing-current-and-future-floor-plans-of-a-museum-from-target-band-
7-book/
 HOMEWORK
The maps show changes to the seaside town of Westport from 1995 to 2015.

https://www.ieltswritinghelp.com/task-1-writing-video-lessons/part-4-maps-processes/chart-3-compare-2-maps/

INTRODUCTION –
The maps illustrate the developments that took place in the coastal town of Westport between the years 1995 and 2015.
Overall, Westport became a more modern city with the most noticeable changes being a greater number of residences
and more modern facilities.

(42 words)

INSTRUCTIONS – write 150 WORDS maximum for TWO BODY PARAGRAPHS using diverse sentence structures