IELTS WRITING TASK 1-MAPS

STRUCTURE
Introduction
Overview: noticeable differences between the two maps
Body paragraph 1: specific changes
Body paragraph 2: specific changes

I. Grammar and vocabulary for maps

1. Write these verbs in the correct column of the table below

build construct convert cut down demolish enlarge erect

expand extend industrialize introduce knock down make into modernize
pull down redevelop remove replace transform turn into urbanize

make bigger take away add something change into general statements
new something else about changes

Describing changes: present perfect passive

When you write about changes between a time in the past and now, the main tense is the present perfect
passive
A new tramline has been built…
A bike-rental scheme has been introduced

However, take place, become, change and make way for can’t be passive:
A number of important changes have taken place in the last decade
The city has become much more modern
The cinema was knocked down to make way for a new shopping centre.

2. Complete these sentences with a suitable present perfect form of the verb in brackets
a. The city used to be very green, but it……………..……much more industrial. (become)
b. A new sports centre……………..……in the city centre. (construct)
c. The old stadium……………and replaced by a new one. (demolish)
d. Many significant changes ……………..in the city in the last ten years. ( take place)
e. The old town hall ………………and replaced by new flats. (knock down)
f. There used to be a park in the north of the city, but it………………by a supermarket. (replace)
g. The old houses………………to make way for new apartments. (pull down)
h. In the last 15 years, the city ………………considerably, from a quiet market town into a much busier
small city. (change)
i. The disused factory in the south of the city ……………….a shopping mall (turn into)

II. Nouns phrases for maps

Instead of using a verb like demolish (e.g. The old market has been demolished), you can use a noun
phrase:
- One interesting development has been the demolition of the old market.
- Another change has been the construction of a new football stadium.

1.Complete this table with the noun forms of the verbs.

Verb Noun Verb Noun
demolish demolition cut down
construct construction transform
build industrialize
open erect
knock down modernize
expand urbanize
convert redevelop
introduce pedestrianize
replace enlarge
extend disappear

2. Complete these sentences with the noun form of the verb in brackets
a. It is interesting to note that there has been a ….redevelopment…of the port area.
b. Another striking change is the ……..……….of the university. (expand)
c. A notable change has been the………………. of the old train station into a police station. (convert)
d. The whole city has experienced a significant……….in the last ten years. (modernize)
e. An interesting development has been the …………of a bike-rental scheme. (introduce)

3. Cover exercise 2 and complete these phrases.

a. Another….striking…..change is….
b. A n………………change has been….
c. The whole city has e…………….a significant modernization…..
d. An i…………………..development has been………….
The two maps show the main changes which have taken place in the town of Castellόn between the year
2000 and today.

In general, it appears that Castellόn has become a much more modern city, with far more shopping and
transport facilities.

One interesting change is that a new tramline has been built, to connect the university with the town centre.
In 2000, there wasn’t any accommodation for students, but a hall of residence has been built near the
university. Another striking change is that the old market in the west of the city has been knocked down to
make way for new shops. A completely new covered market has also been built on the other side of town.

If we look at the port area, it has been pedestrianized since 2000, and a range of entertainment facilities
have been built, such as cinemas, bars, and clubs. The north-east of the city used to be a green area, with
many trees, but the trees have been cut down, and a new shopping complex has been constructed. A final
interesting development has been the introduction of a bike-rental scheme in the city centre.

1. Read the model answer. How many changes are described in paragraphs 3 and 4?
2. Underline all the examples of the following in the model answer
1. present perfect passive
2. phrases to introduce changes
 3. noun phrases
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How to Describe General Changes

Below are some examples of general statements we could use to describe change in towns and cities.
1. Over the period, the area witnessed dramatic changes.
2. From 1995 to 2005, the city centre saw spectacular developments.
3. The village changed considerably over the time period.
4. During the 10 year period, the industrial area was totally transformed.
5. Over the past 20 years, the residential area was totally reconstructed.
6. Between 1995 and 2005, the old houses were rebuilt.
7. The central business district was completely modernised during the time period.

How to Describe Specific Changes

Buildings– demolished, knocked-down, flattened, replaced, renovated, built, constructed, reconstructed,
developed, extended, expanded, relocated, converted and modernized.
Examples:
The government demolished the industrial estate and developed a sports ground.
They removed the shops and replaced it with a skyscraper.
A port was constructed at the edge of the river.
The factory in the city centre was demolished and relocated to the north of the city.
The old warehouses were replaced with new hotels.
The factory was converted into apartments.

Trees and Forests- cleared, cut-down, chopped-down, removed, planted.

Examples:
The forest was cut-down and replaced with a shopping centre.
The trees were cleared to make way for houses.

Roads, bridges and railway lines- constructed, built, extended, expanded and removed.
The main road was extended and a new bridge built over the river.

Leisure facilities- opened, set up, developed.

Examples:
A skate park was set up next to the swimming pool.
A park was developed beside the forest.

How to Describe Locations

You can use ‘to the left’ and ‘to the right’, but a better way is to use ‘north’, ‘south’, ‘east’ and ‘west’.
Examples:
The forest to the south of the river was cut down.
A golf course was constructed to the north of the airport.
The green fields to the north-west of the city were redeveloped as a park.
The airport in the centre of the city was relocated to the north-east of the river.
The school to the south-east was knocked down and a new one built to the east of
the forest.
In: Hanoi is in the north of Vietnam
To: Thai Nguyen is located to the north of Hanoi
Use prepositions of place, e.g. at/in/on/by/to/from, to describe where things are.
Examples:
Dramatic changes took place in the city centre.
To the south of the town, there is a golf course surrounded by trees.
A new school was built next to the swimming pool.
The old road running from north to south was replaced by a new motorway.
A marina was built on the banks of the river.

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The maps below show recent changes in the town of Kimsville.

Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.

You should write at least 150 words

Overview: Kimsville
+ In 2002: greener
+ Today : more industrial
Body 1:
+ trees were cut down
+ new apartments and a football stadium have been built
+ a new train station has been constructed
Body 2:
+ old cinema has been converted to a pub
+ factory has been converted to a software company
+ shopping centre has remained the same

The two maps illustrate some changes which have taken place in Kimsville town between 2002 and today.

Overall, it can be seen that in 2002, Kimsville was a greener, with many trees, but today, it has become
much more industrial, with new buildings and transport facilities.

Looking at the maps in more details, the trees on both the north -west and the south - west sides of
Kimsville have been cut down and new apartments and a football stadium have been built on their
locations. In addition, a new train station has been constructed to the west of the city centre.

Moreover, the building that used to be an old cinema in 2002 has been converted to a pub. In addition, the
factory to the right of the city centre has been knocked down to make way for a software company.
However, the shopping centre in the north of the town has remained the same with no changes.

Practice:

The pictures illustrate the changes in Shipsmouth between 1995 and 2010. Summarize the
information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Nguyen Thi Tu Uyen – 11208385 – Class 25
Outline:
- Overview: 2010 – industrialized, more: shopping + transport facilities (In general)
- Body 1:
+ trees were cut down (on north-west + south-east) (One intersting change is that)
=> new apartments and an airport were built on their locations
+ a new train station was constructed (north) (Moreover)
+ a football stadium was erected (south-southwest) (Another striking change is that)
of the city centre.
- Body 2:
+ the port area, it was pedestrianized (It can be seen that)
+ factory was knocked down to make way for a shopping centre. (In addition)
+ church was converted to a pub
+ the building of new skyscrapers (east) (A final interesting development)

The two maps show the main changes which took place in Shipsmouth during 1995 and
2010.

In general, what stands out from the maps is that in 1995, Shipsmouth was greener with
many trees. However, by 2010, the city of Shipsmouth had been industrialized to become
a far more modern city over the fifteen-year timescale, with far more shopping and
transport facilities.

Looking at the maps in more detail, one interesting change is that the trees on both the
north-west and the south-east sides of Shipsmouth had been cut down and new
apartments and an airport were built on their locations. Another striking change is that a
new train station and a football stadium had been constructed to the north and the south-
southwest of the city centre respectively.

It can be seen that the road in the city centre was pedestrianized in 2010. In addition, the
factory which released a huge amount of harmful smoke was knocked down to make way
for a shopping centre. It is also worth noting that there used to be a church in the north-
east of the city, but it was demolished and replaced by a pub. A final interesting
development is the building of new skyscrapers which was built to the right of the pub.