IELTS Writing Task 1 – Map (Elmford Village)
Two maps, two years, one village. Sort every change into five types (additions, replacements, expansions, relocations and unchanged features), group them in two body paragraphs, and use the passive voice.
Key points
The example question and chart from the video
The maps below show the village of Elmford in 2000 and in 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Type | What happened |
|---|---|
| Additions | a new road, a car park, a footbridge |
| Replacements | farmland became a housing estate; the shop became a supermarket; part of the forest became a sports centre |
| Expansions | the school became almost twice as big |
| Relocations | the playground moved from beside the school to just north of the old houses |
| Unchanged | the river, the main road and its bridge, the old houses |
The main features from the maps, so you can follow the model answer.
Band 9 model answer from the video (177 words)
The maps illustrate how the layout of the village of Elmford changed between 2000 and 2025.
Overall, the village underwent significant development, with several new facilities built, existing features replaced or expanded, and one facility relocated, while a few features remained unchanged.
Regarding new construction and modifications, Elmford's farmland in the north-west was replaced by a large housing estate, linked to the main road by a new road. The small shop was also knocked down and replaced by a supermarket, with a new car park built directly to its north. To the east of the river, around half of the forest was cleared to make way for a sports centre, and a footbridge was added to connect it to the housing estate. Additionally, the school was extended to almost twice its original size.
In terms of relocations and unchanged features, the playground was relocated from beside the school to a new site just north of the old houses. However, the river, the main road and its bridge, and the old houses in the south-west all remained intact.
Chapters in this video (16)
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:49Example Question
- 1:35Examining the Maps
- 2:03Compass Directions
- 2:56Features in 2000
- 3:40Five Types of Change
- 5:18Band 9 Answer Structure
- 5:51Writing the Introduction
- 6:48Overview Rules
- 7:08Writing the Overview
- 8:58Organising the Body Paragraphs
- 10:05Body Paragraph 1
- 12:46Body Paragraph 2
- 13:54Complete Answer
- 14:29Key Takeaways
- 15:29Outro
Simple words for map changes
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| was built / was added | something new appeared | A footbridge was added to connect the sports centre to the housing estate. |
| was knocked down and replaced by | the old thing went and a new thing took its place | The small shop was knocked down and replaced by a supermarket. |
| was cleared to make way for | the land was emptied for something new | Half of the forest was cleared to make way for a sports centre. |
| was extended | became bigger | The school was extended to almost twice its original size. |
| was relocated | moved to a new place | The playground was relocated to a new site just north of the old houses. |
| remained intact | stayed the same | The river and the main road remained intact. |
Practice task: A seaside town
The maps below show a small seaside town in 2005 and in 2025. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
Sort the changes into the five types: additions, replacements, expansions, relocations and unchanged features.
Use compass directions. The N arrow points up.
Use the past simple passive: was replaced by, was extended, was relocated, remained intact.
Show model answer (try first!)
The maps illustrate how a small seaside town changed between 2005 and 2025.
Overall, the town was developed for tourism over the twenty-year period, with new facilities built, several features replaced or expanded, and one facility relocated, while the car park stayed the same.
Regarding new construction and modifications, the fishing harbour in the north-west was replaced by a marina, and the fields in the south were cleared to make way for holiday homes. In addition, a row of restaurants was built in the west, on the site where the market had previously stood. The hotel in the north-east was also extended, so it became considerably larger than before.
In terms of relocations and unchanged features, the market was relocated from the west of the town to a new site in the east, directly south of the hotel. However, the car park in the centre of the town remained intact.
150 words
This practice task and its model answer were written for the website. The video teaches the method with the Elmford village maps above.
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