IELTS Academic Task 1: Describing Maps
Updated 2 July 2026 · 2 min read · ieltspractice.app
Map questions in Academic Task 1 usually show a place at two different times, and ask you to describe how it changed. The skill here is describing location and change clearly. This guide gives you a simple structure, the location language you need, and the correct tenses for before-and-after maps.
What map questions ask
Most maps show the same area at two points in time, for example a town in 1990 and today. You describe what was added, removed or replaced.
Some maps show a single plan. Either way, you report the main features and the biggest changes, not every tiny detail.
A reliable structure
Introduction: reword the task, saying what the maps show and the two dates.
Overview: summarise the biggest change in one or two sentences, such as the area becoming far more developed.
Body paragraph 1: describe the changes in one part of the map.
Body paragraph 2: describe the changes in the rest of the map.
Location language
Use compass and position words: in the north, to the south of the river, in the top-left corner, next to, opposite, alongside.
Being precise about where things are is what makes a map answer clear. Vague location language is a common reason scores stay low.
Use the right tenses
For a past-to-present map, use the past simple for the earlier map and the present perfect or past simple for the changes: "a car park was built", "the forest has been replaced by housing".
For two future dates or a single plan, adjust the tense to match. Keep your tenses consistent so the timeline is clear.
Describe change, not just objects
The marks come from change words: was built, was demolished, was converted into, was extended, replaced, relocated.
Compare the two maps rather than listing what each one contains. "The small shops were knocked down and replaced by a shopping centre" shows change; "there are shops" does not.
Quick check
Test yourself — tap an answer to see if you are right.
1. What should the overview of a map answer focus on?
2. Which sentence best shows change?
3. Which is good location language?
Frequently asked questions
What tense should I use for a map showing the past and present?
Use the past simple for the earlier map and the present perfect or past simple for the changes, such as "a school was built" or "the fields have been developed".
Do I describe every building on the map?
No. Report the main features and the biggest changes. Trying to include every small detail wastes time and blurs your overview.
What makes a map answer score well?
Clear location language and clear change language. Say where things are and how they changed between the two maps.
Is an overview needed for maps too?
Yes. Summarise the single biggest change, such as an area becoming much more built-up. The overview is required for a high score.
Sources
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