Introduction
IELTS map task 1 is one of the easiest tasks to attempt. In this task type, you will get 2-3 maps to analyze and compare. You will get 2 maps of the same locations but from different time periods and you will need to identify the changes that have occurred over time.
Solved Example
Example question
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.
IELTS map task 1 tips
Follow the essay structure
Follow the shared essay structure. Constant practice will make it easier to attempt the essay questions and reduce the time taken to try these.
Structure
Introduction – paragraph 1
Overview – paragraph 2
First & Second main feature – paragraph 3
Third & Fourth main feature – paragraph 4
Stick to the word limit
If the task says you have to write a minimum of 150 words, ensure you write at least 150 words, but keep it within 200 words
IELTS map task 1 strategy
Read and understand the question
Example question
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.
In the question, there are two maps of a village named Stokeford from 1930 to 2010. You have to summarise and report the main features and compare them. A minimum word limit is specified anything below this limit will negatively impact your marks.
Identify and compare the main features
The trick is to identify 3-4 main features from the maps and compare them. This will help you to identify the differences between them. Look for what has changed over time when comparing them.
Essay structure for IELTS maps
When writing the essay, follow the structure given below. It can be used as a template to plan your essay quickly.
Introduction – paragraph 1
Overview – paragraph 2
First & Second main feature – paragraph 3
Third & Fourth main feature – paragraph 4
Introduction – paragraph 1
The first part of the essay is the introduction to the essay. Which can be created by paraphrasing the question. Read the question and change it by using synonyms. You can also change the sentence structure but don’t copy and paste the exact sentence from the question.
Question: The maps below show the village of Stokeford in 1930 and 2010.
Introduction: The two maps display the changes that happened to the village of Stokeford over a period of 80 years from 1930 to 2010.
Overview – paragraph2
In the overview, you should describe the changes that happened to the village of Stokeford, but make sure to highlight these at a higher level and don’t go into details. You will go into details later on, remember this is an overview.
Example:-
The village changed considerably over eighty years from a small village with few houses and farmlands to a big residential area.
First & second main feature – paragraph 3
The first main feature is that– houses have been built on the farmland.
The second main feature is that– shops have disappeared.
A lot has changed in the village of Stokeford between 1930 and 2010. New houses have been constructed and the farmland has disappeared. The shops present on either side of the post office have disappeared, however, the post office has remained as it was in 1930. New roads have been built to connect these houses to the main road.
Third & fourth main feature – paragraph 4
The third main feature – The primary school has expanded.
The fourth main feature – The large house converted to a retirement home.
The primary school which is on the opposite side of the road from the post office has expanded in size with two blocks added to it on the East side. The large house situated to the south-east of the school has been expanded and converted into a retirement home and the size of its garden has been reduced to make more homes.
Complete Essay
The two maps display the changes that have occurred in the village of Stokeford over the 80 years from 1930 to 2010.
Over eighty years, the village transformed considerably from a small village with a few houses and farmlands to a big residential area.
A lot has changed in the village of Stokeford between 1930 and 2010. New houses have been constructed and the farmland has disappeared. The shops present on either side of the post office have disappeared, however, the post office has remained as it was in 1930. New roads have been built to connect these houses to the main road.
The primary school which is on the opposite side of the road from the post office has expanded in size with two blocks added to it on the East side. The large house situated to the south-east of the school has been expanded and converted into a retirement home and the size of its garden has been reduced to make more homes.
Word count – 165 words