Vocabulary for IELTS Academic Writing Map Questions

When describing the location of something on a map, you can use the following
phrases and vocabulary:

Phrases and vocabulary Example sentences

to the north of/north of The marsh is north of the hotel = The

marsh is to the north of the hotel.

to the south of/ south of The hotel is to the south of the
marsh = The hotel is south of the
marsh

to the east of/ east of The forest to the east of the river
was completely cut down. = The
forest east of the river was
completely cut down.

to the west of/ west of The factory to the west of the

school was flattened and relocated.
= The factory west of the school was
flattened and relocated.

north east of / to the north east of  The sand dunes are north east of the
north west of / to the north west of  tea room.
south east of / to the south east of 
south west of / to the south west of
The industrial area to the south west
of the station was expanded.

The shopping centre is relocated to

the south west of the town, which
has a population of 50,000.

in the west Most of the town’s buildings are

in the east concentrated in the north.
in the north
in the south
There were many shops in the east.
Phrases and vocabulary Example sentences

on the south side of Shops on the south side of the

on the north side of current main road will be maintained
on the east side of in the future.
on the west side of

The trees on the east side of the

river were cut down and a new office
block was built.

The shops along the north side

of the new pedestrian street will be
demolished to make way for a bus
station.

Northern The house faces northwest.

Southern
Eastern
Western The northern area is rarely
Southeast countryside, while the southern area
Northeast is filled with houses.
Southwest
Northwest
There is a school at the end of the
fork road in the southwest
corner and a park in the southeast
area.

Most factories are located on the

northeast side of the town.
Describing general changes

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. Over the time period, the old docks were totally redeveloped.

7. Between 1995 and 2005, the old houses were rebuilt.

8. The central business district was completely modernised

during the time period.

Describing locations

The forest to the south of the river was cut down.

A golf course was constructed to the north of the airport.

The houses in the south-west of the town were demolished.

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.

Buildings

Demolished / Knocked down / Flattened

Replaced / Make way for / Give way to

Renovated

Built / Constructed

Reconstructed

Developed

Extended

Expanded

Converted

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 & 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 railways lines

Constructed / Built

Extended

Expanded

Removed

Examples: The main road was extended and a new bridge built
over the river.

Leisure facilities- opened, set up, developed.

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.