Are you struggling with IELTS Writing Task 1 Map questions? You’re not alone! Many find map tasks confusing at first. But don’t worry — with a simple structure and a clear approach, you can confidently tackle any map question.
I’ll guide you through an easy –paragraph structure using a real example. By the end, you’ll feel ready to describe even the trickiest maps!
✅ The Structure You Should Follow For Map
To make your writing clear, logical, and score-worthy, stick to this structure:
- Introduction
- Overview
- Body Paragraphs
- Body Paragraph-1
- Body Paragraph-2
Let’s walk through each step using this sample question:
The plans below show the layout of the ground floor of a museum in 1990 and in 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
🔍 Step 1: Understand the Question
Before writing, take a moment to observe the maps carefully. Ask yourself:
- What are the time periods?
- What changed between the two maps?
- What stayed the same?
- Are there any symbols or signs to interpret?
- Which tense should I use (past, present, or future)?
Taking 1-2 minutes to think about the maps first can save you time and improve your score!
✍️ Step 2: Write the Introduction
This is simple. Just paraphrase the question using 1–2 sentences.
Include
- Mention: What graph shows, Where it happens and When it occurs
- Identify subject
- Identify if the maps are past, present or future situations
Useful Expressions:
- The maps illustrate…
- The maps compare…
- The maps show…
- The two maps illustrate…
From the question:
| How to start | The maps illustrate some changes that were made to |
| What the graph is about | the ground floor of a museum |
| When it occurs | 1990 and 2010. |
| Tense | Past |
| How to paraphrase? | Use synonyms or change the sentence structure from the question. show → illustrate the ground floor of a museum → the ground floor of a museum in 2007 and in 2010 → between 2007 and 2010 |
And this is a possible way to write your introduction:
The maps illustrate some changes that were made to the ground floor of a museum between 1990 and 2010.
Intro Template
The maps illustrate/show/compare some changes that were made to __[subject]__. between _[Year 1]__ and _[Year 2]__.
Or
The given maps illustrate/show/compare changes in the layout of _[topic name]__ from _[Year 1]__ to _[Year 2]__.
🧠 Step 3: Write the Overview
In this part, your goal is to describe the general changes shown in the maps. Before you start writing, take a moment to identify the key changes.
Include:
- Overall or general trends
- Identify the main changes
Start your overview like this:
- It is clear that…
- Overall, …
- Overall, it can be seen that…
- Overall, it is clear that…
| From the graph: Look at the main changes: ⇒ Moving the statue ⇒ Improving some facilities ⇒ Adding a children’s interactive zones, a poster display area |
And this is a possible way to write your overview:
It is clear that a number of major modifications were made to the ground floor of a museum. These include moving the statue, improving some facilities, and adding a children’s play area and a poster display, and so on.
Overview Template
It is clear that three/a number of major changes/modifications/developments were made/are made/will be made to _[subject]___. These include ___ and so on.
Or,
Overall, a brief analysis reveals that several changes were made/are make/will be made to the _[topic name]_ throughout the years/periods, including the addition of ___ facilities like ___, and relocate some infrastructures such as ___.
🧱 Step 4: Write Body Paragraphs
Now it’s time to give more detailed information. Write 2 or 3 clear paragraphs by grouping the changes —
- Describe some major changes in Body Paragraph 1
- And the rest in Body Paragraph 2.
Include:
- Start with “Looking more closely at the charts,”
- Use a range of linking words, vocabulary, and grammar structures to describe the changes. Try not to repeat them.
- Follow the tense from the graph.
- Body paragraph 2 can start with “The two maps also show that…”
From the graph:
| Body Paragraph 1 | ⇒ Archeology gallery → children’s interactive zones and poster display area ⇒ Gift shop ⇒ Lift ⇒ Local History room and natural history room remained unchanged |
| Body Paragraph 2 | ⇒ Museum office – receiption counter – entrance ⇒ Statue ⇒ Stairs remained unchanged |
Note: There is no definite formula to group the data. Just take care whose changes are connected and put them together.
And this is a possible way to write your body paragraphs :
Body Paragraph 1
Looking more closely at the charts, the archaeology gallery in the top-right corner was changed into two rooms — a children’s interactive zone and a poster display area — between 1990 and 2010. The gift shop in the left-hand corner was made bigger and a café was added. A lift was also built, connecting to the natural history room. However, the natural history room and local history room remained unchanged over the period.
Body Paragraph 2
The two maps also show that the reception counter was attached to the museum office in 1990. However by 2010, it was resized and moved closer to the entrance. The statue was relocated to the center of the ground floor and the entrance was also widened. Finally, the stairs remained the same throughout the period.
Map questions can seem overwhelming at first — but with a simple structure, some smart observations, and practice, you can master them! Stick to the format, paraphrase carefully, highlight the biggest changes, and support your points with clear details.