IELTS Task 1 maps and plans: how to describe changes

Map questions show a place at two points in time, or a place now and a plan for its future. The examiner wants a clear overview of the general change and an organised tour of the details.

Past, present or proposed?

Check the dates first. They decide your grammar:

• Two past dates (2000 and 2025): past simple for each map, and the past perfect passive for changes: “the farmland had been replaced by a housing estate”.
• Now and a plan: present simple for the current layout and would for the proposal: “the reading room would be converted into a children's area”.

The overview

Say what kind of change happened overall, then name the biggest one or two:

Overall, the village became considerably more developed, with new housing and public facilities replacing much of the countryside.

Also notice what did not change. A sentence like “only the entrance and the toilets would remain unchanged” is useful and easy.

Organise by area

Do not jump around the map. Choose one route and keep to it:

• north of the road, then south,
• clockwise from the entrance,
• west to east.

Location language does the organising:

• in the north-east / in the south-west corner
• to the east of the river / just inside the entrance
• next to / opposite / between

Verbs for change

• was replaced by / made way for
• was converted into / was rebuilt as
• was extended / was reduced in size
• was divided into
• was demolished / was built / was constructed

Floor plans use the same language: take up, occupy, the space freed up would be used for.

Common map mistakes

• No overview, just a list of changes.
• Wrong tense: “the shop is replaced” for a change that happened in the past.
• Guessing reasons (“because the population grew”) the map does not show.
• Directions that are wrong. Check the compass; north is usually up.

Practise

Read the village changes and library redesign models, one past and one proposed.