Task 1 MAP – Past and Present

In an IELTS task 1 map you often have to compare a map from the past with one from the present. 

This writing task 1 sample map shows you an example of one of these types of questions with a model answer. 

Organization: Each Map in Turn

You have several choices of how to organize an IELTS task 1 map such as this. 

You could choose the various features in turn, such as the fishing port and market in the past, then note how these have now gone, with the market replaced by apartments.

Or you could describe everything on the first map, and then everything on the second map. This is how this sample answer is organized.

Either way, make sure you describe all the key features in the IELTS task 1 map and don’t miss any. 

Tenses

Hopefully, the tenses to use will be obvious. You need to use past tenses for the first IELTS task 1 map in 1995 and present tenses for the present day one. 

IELTS Task 1 Map Sample (Past and Present)

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. The map below shows the development of the village of Ryemouth between 1995 and present. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.

Model Answer

The map shows how a village called Ryemouth has developed over the last twenty-five years. There have been several changes, the most noticeable being the increases in accommodation, the elimination of the fishing industry, and the introduction of sports facilities. 

In 1995, to the south of the village where the sea is there was previously a fishing industry, with a fishing port and quite a large fish market as well. Next to this was a small cafe. On the other side of the road running by the sea stood a line of five shops and a hotel, while situated in the northeast part of the village was farmland and a park with trees. The main housing of the village was located in the northwest around a main road that runs from the coastal road, with twelve houses, four of them encircled by a smaller side street.

Turning to the present-day map, it can be seen that the fishing facilities have all gone, being replaced by four apartments, and the shops have become restaurants. The cafe remains, as does the hotel, albeit with parking facilities which it did not have before. Having been converted into a golf course, the farmland has now gone, while the forest park has been removed to make way for tennis courts. Although the old houses remain, new ones have been built, along with a new road with two new houses beside it.  

(240 Words)

Evaluation of the model answer

Your description of the map is detailed and well-structured. It effectively captures the key developments in Ryemouth over the 25-year period. Here’s a detailed evaluation with some minor suggestions for improvement:

Tone and Content: Band 8-9

• You provide a clear overview of the major changes, focusing on accommodation, the elimination of the fishing industry, and the introduction of sports facilities.
• The description is thorough and covers all relevant features.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8

• The text is generally well-organized and logically structured. You compare the past and present well, making it easy for the reader to follow the changes.
• However, the second paragraph feels a bit lengthy. Breaking it into two paragraphs (perhaps one for the old map and one for the new) would improve readability.

Language and Grammar: Band 8

• Minor issues with verb tenses: In the second paragraph, “there was previously a fishing industry” could be slightly rephrased for smoothness, e.g., “there used to be a fishing industry.”
• The phrase “being replaced by four apartments” could be slightly rephrased to “which have been replaced by four apartments” for clarity.
• The sentence, “The cafe remains, as does the hotel, albeit with parking facilities which it did not have before,” is clear but might flow better as: “The cafe remains, as does the hotel, which now has parking facilities.”
• “New road with two new houses beside it” could be refined slightly to “a new road with two houses built alongside it” to avoid repeating “new.”

Task Achievement: Band 9

• You’ve successfully highlighted the main changes between 1995 and the present day, covering important details such as the disappearance of the fishing industry, the introduction of sports facilities, and the changes in housing and infrastructure.
• The summary at the beginning efficiently encapsulates the key developments.

Suggestions for Improvement:

• Consider breaking up the longer paragraph into smaller sections to improve flow.
• Rephrase a few sentences to avoid repetition and enhance clarity.

Overall, your description is strong and provides an excellent understanding of the changes in Ryemouth. Minor adjustments in phrasing and structure could make it even more polished, but this is a high-level response.