IELTS Academic Writing Task 1: Map Changes — Model Answer
Success in Map tasks is not determined by your ability to describe what you see, but by your ability to describe how things changed in relation to one another. In standardization meetings, examiners look for three specific markers in the first 30 seconds: spatial accuracy, lexical variety in transformation verbs, and a clear overview of the "character shift" of the area.
The question
The maps below show the industrial village of Granley in 1985 and as it is today. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
(Visual context: In 1985, Granley was a small village with a central factory, a few houses to the west, and a large area of farmland to the east. Today, the factory has been replaced by a shopping centre, the farmland is now a housing estate, and the small road has been expanded into a dual carriageway with a new ring road.)
Model answer (opening excerpt)
The two maps illustrate the urban development of Granley from an industrial-focused village in 1985 to a modernized residential and commercial suburb in the present day.
The full Band 9 response, with paragraph-by-paragraph examiner notes, is part of Ted.Talks.DZ coaching.
The Anatomy of the Change: The Trap → The Logic → The Fix
| The Trap (Band 5-6) | The Logic (Examiner Perspective) | The Fix (Band 8-9) |
|---|---|---|
| Listing features: "In 1985 there was a factory. Now there is a shop." | Listing is not summarizing. It ignores the relationship between elements. | Comparative Analysis: "The industrial footprint of 1985 has been entirely repurposed for commercial use." |
| Simple Verbs: "They built a road. They took away the trees." | Low lexical resource. Shows a lack of academic register. | Transformation Verbs: "Infrastructure was upgraded," "Woodlands were cleared," "The site was redeveloped." |
| Vague Location: "It is next to the houses." | Lack of precision. Maps are about coordinates and spatial logic. | Directional Precision: "To the North-West of the intersection," "Running parallel to the southern boundary." |
Band-by-Band Breakdown: Task 1 Map
| Element | Band 6.0 Pattern | Band 9.0 Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | Mentions that "many things changed." | Identifies the type of change (e.g., urbanization, deforestation, residential expansion). |
| Data/Details | Focuses on individual items one by one. | Groups features logically (e.g., all transport changes together, all green space changes together). |
| Cohesion | Uses "And," "Then," "Also." | Uses cohesive devices of contrast: "In stark contrast to," "Where once stood X, now lies Y." |
| Grammar | Mainly active voice: "They built a new school." | Heavy use of the passive voice: "A new school was erected," which is the standard for reporting objective changes. |
More: all model answers · Task 2 structure guide
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