Maps & Plans: Introductions & Overviews (British Council Academic IELTS: Writing): Study Material

Maps & plans: introductions & overviews

Rephrasing the question

• In IELTS Writing Task 1, you may have to describe the key physical features of a place, such as a town or university campus. Sometimes you have to describe and compare two maps or plans

• An example map in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 may look like this:

• The introduction usually includes two parts:

  • An introductory sentence that rephrases the task question (one sentence)

  • An overview describing the key features and major changes or trends (two sentences)

• Identify what features the map illustrates before you start writing

• Make sure you understand the key changes if there are two maps or plans

• Remember not to copy the task question when writing your introductory sentence

• To avoid this, circle the keywords in the task question

• Use synonyms for those keywords to paraphrase the task question

• Make sure your paraphrase keeps the same meaning as the task question

• You do not need to paraphrase every word (keep terms such as “map”)

• Do not include detailed data or comparisons in your introductory sentence

Example of a good introductory sentence

• Task question:

  • The maps below show the town of Saltford in 2000 and 2020

• A possible introductory sentence:

  • The maps illustrate the development and expansion of the town of Saltford between 2000 and 2020

Finding the overview

• After your introductory sentence, you need to write the overview

• This is the part where you give an overview of the key features and / or changes

• Aim to write two clear sentences

• Avoid describing details

•  What you could look for:

  • Are there any major infrastructure improvements?

  • Have there been any changes in buildings use?

  • Are there any changes in leisure facilities or services?

  • Is it more or less residential?

  •  Are there more or less green spaces?

Example of a good overview

• Task question:

  • The maps below show the town of Saltford in 2000 and 2020

• A possible overview:

  • Overall, Saltford has seen significant growth over the twenty years since the beginning of the century. There has been expansion both in terms of the number of residential areas and in the range of amenities in the town