IELTS Task 1: Maps
You are given a place at two different times — occasionally three — and asked to describe how it changed. The language is location plus change, and the tense is decided entirely by the dates in the prompt.
Location and change
| Need | Language |
|---|---|
| Where | in the north-east, to the south of, alongside the river, on the opposite bank |
| Built | was constructed, was erected, was built on the site of |
| Removed | was demolished, was cleared, was replaced by |
| Changed use | was converted into, was turned into, now serves as |
| Expanded | was extended, was widened, doubled in size |
| Unchanged | remained in place, was left untouched, is the only feature still present |
Saying what did *not* change is worth a sentence. Markers look for it, and most candidates describe only the differences.
Tenses follow the dates
- Both dates past — past simple passive throughout.
- Past to present — past for the first map, present perfect or present for the second.
- Present to future — present for now, *is due to be*, *will be* for the plan.
Organise by area, not by map. Taking the north of the site in one paragraph and the south in another compares the two times directly; describing map one then map two forces the reader to do the comparison themselves.
Maps — FAQs
2 questions
Yes, where a compass is given. It is the most precise location language available and markers expect it.
Better to split by area. The task is the change, and change is easier to show when both times sit in the same paragraph.
More writing question types
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.