Airport Expansion Plan

The question

How to approach this map question

A map question shows a place at two points in time (or two plans). Describe what changed, what stayed the same, and where, using direction and location language.

1. Say what the maps show and the two time points in your own words.
2. Overview: the main kind of change (for example more building, less green space) and one thing that stays.
3. Describe changes area by area (north, south, centre) with verbs such as was replaced by, was converted into, was built.
4. Use precise location phrases: to the east of, next to, opposite, in the north-west corner.

How to plan this answer

Structure

1. Introduction: paraphrase the maps. The airport area today and in its future plan.
2. Overview: the plan will add a new terminal and a rail link and enlarge the car park, while the runway and the hotel will remain.
3. Body 1: the new terminal to the east of the existing terminal, built on former farmland, and the enlarged car park.
4. Body 2: the rail link running south from the terminals to the motorway, plus the features that will stay the same.

Key features to spot

• A new terminal will be built to the east of the existing terminal, on land that is currently farmland.
• The car park to the west will be larger, with more rows of spaces.
• A rail link will run south from the terminals to the motorway.
• The runway at the top of the plan and the hotel to the south-east of the existing terminal will remain unchanged.
• The river on the western side of the site will also remain as it is.

Useful vocabulary

• will be built to the east of: A new terminal will be built to the east of the existing one.
• on former farmland: The new terminal will stand on former farmland.
• will be enlarged: The car park will be enlarged.
• a rail link will run: A rail link will run south from the terminals to the motorway.
• is currently: The site is currently farmland.
• will remain unchanged: The runway will remain unchanged in the plan.
• is linked to: The new terminal is linked to the existing terminal.
• to the south of: The motorway is to the south of the terminals.
• the most significant addition: The most significant addition is the new terminal.
• connecting: The rail link connects the terminals with the motorway.

Common mistakes

• Placing the new terminal to the west. It is east of the existing terminal.
• Describing the hotel as being moved. It remains in its current position.
• Saying the runway will be extended. The runway stays the same.
• Using the past tense for the plan. Use will and future forms.
• Forgetting that the new terminal replaces open farmland. Mentioning this shows the scale of the change.

Examiner tip: Start with the scale of the expansion, the new terminal on farmland, then describe the transport links, since the rail link is the main addition connecting the airport to the wider road network.