IELTS Listening: Map and Plan Labelling
Updated 2 July 2026 · 2 min read · ieltspractice.app
Map and plan labelling questions give you a picture — a map of a town, a plan of a building, or a diagram — and ask you to label parts of it as you listen. They reward a specific skill: following spoken directions and matching them to a visual. With a clear method, these can become some of the most reliable marks in the Listening test. Here is how to handle them.
What this question type asks
You see a map, plan or diagram with some labels missing, and a list of options or places to identify. As the speaker describes the layout, you match each label to the right spot.
The answers follow the order of the recording, so you can move steadily through them as the speaker guides you around the map.
Use the pause before the audio
Before the recording starts, you get a short time to look at the map. Use it well: find the starting point, the compass direction if there is one, and any labels already given.
Knowing where you are on the map before the speaker begins is half the battle. It means you can follow the directions instead of hunting for your position.
Follow the direction language
Listen for position and movement words: opposite, next to, across from, at the end of, turn left, on your right, in the far corner.
These words are how the speaker moves you around the map. Track them carefully, because one missed direction can send you to the wrong place for the next answer too.
Keep your place as you listen
Put your pen or cursor on your current location and move it as the speaker moves. This keeps you oriented and stops you from losing track.
If you miss one answer, do not freeze. Let it go and pick up at the next clear landmark, or you risk missing several in a row.
Watch for corrections
Speakers sometimes correct themselves: "It's next to the library — sorry, next to the car park." The final answer is the corrected one, so listen to the end of each direction.
This is a common trap, so do not write your answer the instant you hear a place name. Wait until the speaker has finished.
Quick check
Test yourself — tap an answer to see if you are right.
1. How should you use the pause before the audio?
2. What should you do if the speaker corrects themselves?
3. Do map labelling questions follow the recording order?
Frequently asked questions
Do map labelling answers follow the order of the recording?
Yes. The speaker guides you around the map in order, so you can work steadily through the labels as you listen.
How do I prepare in the seconds before the audio?
Find the starting point, note any compass direction, and read the labels already on the map. Knowing your position before the speaker starts makes following directions much easier.
What language should I listen for?
Position and movement words such as opposite, next to, across from, turn left and at the end of. These move you around the map.
What if I miss one answer?
Let it go and rejoin at the next clear landmark. Freezing on a missed answer often causes you to miss the next few as well.
Sources
Keep reading
Original IELTS-style practice content. ieltspractice.app is independent and not affiliated with IDP, Cambridge English, or the British Council.