Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

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How to use this lesson

For Teachers

1. Guide students through this 40-minute build-up lesson to build the language of map description before the Hollin map task.

2. Monitor individual progress through automated exercise checks and review free-writing Task 1 submissions using standard criteria.

For Learners

1. Start here in Module 1 to master vocabulary, collocations, and phrase structures using notes about a small town called Marlow.

2. Move next to Module 2 to analyze town map changes and submit your complete Academic Task 1 report for AI feedback.

Module 1 BUILD-UP TOOLKIT

Start here: Building your toolkit for map description

Master key word forms, collocations, map phrases, and paraphrasing techniques using notes about the town of Marlow in 2000 and 2020.

🗺️ Reference Notes: Marlow Town, 2000 and 2020

Two dates

Marlow in 2000

• Old cinema in the town centre
• Old school in the north
• Old factory in the south
• Warehouse beside the river
• Woodland in the west
• Farmland in the east
• Harbour and park

Marlow in 2020

• Hotel in the town centre
• Supermarket in the north
• Shopping centre in the south
• Warehouse turned into flats
• New road through the former woodland, extended to a new estate
• Houses on the former farmland, a new stadium east of the centre, a sports centre beside the river
• Harbour and park the same

Part (a): Word Forms

Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in brackets.

💡 Pattern Example:

"The council improved the road, and this improvement made the journey faster."

Why this works: The verb 'improved' and the noun 'improvement' describe the same change, so you can vary your sentences.

1. The ___ (construct) of the new shopping centre took two years.

____

2. The old cinema was ___ (demolition) to make way for a hotel.

____

3. There was a major ___ (expand) of the town towards the east.

____

4. A new ___ (resident) area was built on the former farmland.

____

5. The council decided to ___ (modern) the town centre.

____

Part (b): Collocations for Describing Map Changes

Select the best word to complete each common map description collocation.

6. The old factory was ____ by a shopping centre.

____ a. exchanged ____ b. replaced ____ c. altered

7. The new sports centre is ____ to the river, just ten metres from the bank.

____ a. across ____ b. towards ____ c. adjacent

8. Over the period, the area to the east underwent a major ____ from farmland to housing.

____ a. transformation ____ b. transport ____ c. translation

9. A large area of woodland was ____ to build the new road.

____ a. cleaned ____ b. cleared ____ c. closed

10. The old school was pulled ____ and a supermarket was built on the site.

____ a. down ____ b. off ____ c. out

Part (c): Common Phrases for Describing Places and Changes

Fill in each sentence using the appropriate phrase from the word bank below.

Word Bank

remained unchanged was extended in place of was converted into to the east of

11. The old cinema was knocked down, and a hotel now stands ___ it.

____

12. The new stadium lies ___ the town centre, beside the main road.

____

13. The old warehouse ___ a block of flats.

____

14. The main road ___ to reach the new estate.

____

15. The park, in contrast, ___ throughout the twenty years.

____

Part (d): Paraphrasing

Select the sentence that accurately expresses the same meaning in different words.

Original Sentence:

"The old cinema was demolished and a hotel was built on the same site."

Choose the matching sentence:

____ a. The old cinema was changed into a hotel. ____ b. A hotel now stands where the old cinema used to be. ____ c. The hotel was pulled down to build a cinema.

Original Sentence:

"Most of the farmland to the east was built over with houses."

Choose the matching sentence:

____ a. Farmers moved most of their land to the east. ____ b. Almost all the farmland in the east was kept for farming. ____ c. New houses took up most of the farmland in the east.

Original Sentence:

"The harbour did not change at all between the two dates."

Choose the matching sentence:

____ a. The harbour stayed exactly the same in both years. ____ b. The harbour was made larger between the two dates. ____ c. The harbour was moved to the other side of the river.

Module 2 IELTS TASK 1 PRACTICE

Now for the task: Writing about map changes

Analyse the two grid maps depicting structural developments along the river crossing in Hollin, review the writing requirements, and produce your report.

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Task Prompt

"The two maps show the area around the river crossing in the town of Hollin in 2004 and in 2024. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features."

Write at least 150 words.

Data Comparison: Text Grids

Each map is a 4x5 layout (4 rows × 5 columns). Read left to right. North is at the top.

🧭 NORTH ↑

Map 1 (2004)

Baseline Year

town

river

farmland

town

harbour

river

farmland

town

ferry pier

river

ferry pier

farmland

town

river

farmland

Map 2 (2024)

20 Years Later

town

river

warehouses

town

harbour

river

warehouses

farmland

town

road

bridge

road

service area

town

river

business park

✅ Academic Task 1 Map Report Checklist

Ensure every academic map comparison meets these five essential standards:

✓ An overview highlighting prominent features

✓ Coverage of main structural changes

✓ Explicit comparisons between years

✓ Accurate details without unsupported claims

✓ Word count of at least 150 words

Write Your Task 1 Report

Your response will be evaluated automatically against official IELTS criteria.

AI Graded

____ (Write your full Task 1 map report here (minimum 150 words)...)

Evaluation Criteria: Task Achievement Coherence & Cohesion Lexical Resource Grammar Range & Accuracy

Module 3 MODEL ANSWER ANALYSIS

Understanding excellence: A model answer

Study this high-scoring model report to see how map changes are grouped, linked, and described clearly.

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Model Report (Hollin Town Maps)

Length: 175 words

The two maps illustrate the developments in the town of Hollin between 2004 and 2024.

Overall, the area underwent significant industrial and commercial development on the eastern side of the river, while the western side remained largely unchanged. Most noticeably, the former ferry crossing was replaced by a road bridge, providing direct access across the river.

In 2004, the area east of the river was almost entirely farmland, with ferry piers situated on both banks. By 2024, these ferry piers had been removed to make way for a new road and bridge spanning the river. Adjacent to the eastern end of this road, a service area was constructed.

On the eastern side, a major transformation occurred as vast stretches of agricultural land gave way to modern infrastructure. In the north-east, warehouses were built, while a business park was established in the south-eastern section. By 2024, only a single plot of farmland retained its original state in the central-eastern zone. Meanwhile, the town on the western bank and its harbour remained completely intact throughout the twenty-year period.

🔑 Why these phrases work

Here is a plain breakdown of why each bolded phrase makes the report clear and effective.

Phrase 1

"underwent significant industrial and commercial development"

Why this works: Summarises the main overall changes across the entire map in one smooth, high-level overview sentence.

Phrase 2

"remained largely unchanged"

Why this works: Highlights areas that stayed the same, creating a clear and useful contrast with the newly developed zones.

Phrase 3

"was replaced by a road bridge"

Why this works: Clearly explains when an old feature disappears and a new structure takes over its exact spot.

Phrase 4

"situated on both banks"

Why this works: Gives exact location details along the river without repeating basic words like "on the left and right".

Phrase 5

"a major transformation occurred"

Why this works: Provides a strong opening phrase for a body paragraph that details big structural changes.

Phrase 6

"gave way to"

Why this works: A natural-sounding alternative to saying "was changed into" or "became".

Phrase 7

"retained its original state"

Why this works: A precise way to point out the single piece of land that was left untouched while surrounding areas were built over.

IELTS Academic Writing: Infrastructure and Megaprojects

How to use this lesson

Start here: Building your toolkit for map description

🗺️ Reference Notes: Marlow Town, 2000 and 2020

Part (a): Word Forms

Part (b): Collocations for Describing Map Changes

Part (c): Common Phrases for Describing Places and Changes

Part (d): Paraphrasing

Now for the task: Writing about map changes

Task Prompt

Data Comparison: Text Grids

Map 1 (2004)

Map 2 (2024)

✅ Academic Task 1 Map Report Checklist

Write Your Task 1 Report

Understanding excellence: A model answer

Model Report (Hollin Town Maps)

🔑 Why these phrases work

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