In IELTS writing task 1, map is another type of questions that can be asked apart from the figurative diagrams of bar charts or pie charts. You may find only a single map where two sites S1 and S2 might have been proposed for constructing a building, shopping mall etc. Other than this, there can be another type of question in IELTS Writing Task 1 where you may find two maps. The two maps can be of a city in two different time periods where you would need to explain the developments that might have been made in that city after a specific time period of 10 years, may be. Let us find out how to do a map question in IELTS writing task 1.

Step 1: Read Question and Map Carefully

As it is quite common in all the IELTS writing task 1 questions, you must read the question statement carefully in the map. Along with reading the question, you should go through the labels given in the map. For example, if there are 5 labels in different colours, you can locate which colour belongs to which area of the map. Also, check if you are given a compass or not which you can use to describe locations.

Step 2: Write Map Introduction

After you have read the IELTS writing task 1 map question properly, you can now start writing introduction. Use your paraphrasing skills to write a good introduction. You may include synonyms of words in the question or rearrange words/phrases to form a restructured paragraph. For example,

Question Statement:

The city planner of A city shows two proposed sites S1 and S2 for constructing a shopping mall.

Introduction:

The given map of A city shows two sites S1 and S2 proposed by the city planners for construction of a shopping mall in the city.

Step 3: Start Analysing Map According to the Question

After writing introduction, you can start analysing the map to identify its important highlights. You need to analyse the map according to what the question is. Hence, it is only by reading the IELTS writing task 1 question carefully that you can come to know what you have to do in the question. For example, if the question states that two sites have been proposed for construction of shopping mall, you may analyse the surroundings of both S1 and S2 areas to determine which of the two can be a better site for having a shopping mall.

Step 4: Write Body Paragraphs about Key Features of Map

After you have got some points about S1 and S2 in the IELTS writing task 1 map question, you can start writing your body paragraphs. For example, you may have points in the map about S1 that you can describe as, for example, “S1 is located in the north-west region and is closer to residential apartments. Hence, constructing a shopping mall would benefit the residents.” You may structure the body paragraphs into two, such as, writing about S1 in first paragraph and writing about S2 in the second paragraph, for better clarity of your ideas.

Step 5: Write Main Conclusion

The main summarised points of IELTS writing task 1 question play a very important role and hence, these points must be included either after introduction or at the end. In the map question, you may write the conclusive points in 2-3 lines that describe S1 and S2 locations in totality or you may write which could be a better site out of the two and why.