Island Resort Development

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 island in 2000 and 2025.
2. Overview: the island was developed for tourism, with a cafe, hotel and swimming pool added, and the jetty was extended, while the forest, village, river and road stayed the same.
3. Body 1: the east of the island, where the farm became a cafe, and the beach, where a hotel and swimming pool were built.
4. Body 2: the jetty, which was extended far into the sea, plus the features that remained unchanged.

Key features to spot

• The farm in the east was replaced by a cafe with outdoor tables and umbrellas.
• A hotel was built on the beach to the south of the village, with a swimming pool to its east.
• The jetty was extended a long way into the sea, becoming much longer than in 2000.
• The forest in the north, the village in the west and the river remained unchanged.
• The island's development shows a move from farming to tourism.

Useful vocabulary

• was replaced by: The farm was replaced by a cafe.
• was built on the beach: A hotel was built on the beach.
• to the east of: The swimming pool is to the east of the hotel.
• was extended: The jetty was extended far out into the sea.
• considerably longer: The jetty is considerably longer than it was in 2000.
• remained unchanged: The forest remained unchanged throughout the period.
• a move from ... to ...: The island shows a move from farming to tourism.
• in the north of the island: The forest covers the north of the island.
• to the south of the village: The hotel is located to the south of the village.
• the most significant development: The most significant development is the hotel complex on the beach.

Common mistakes

• Saying the village expanded. The village appears the same in both maps.
• Placing the cafe in the village area. It replaced the farm in the east.
• Describing the jetty as doubled. State that it became considerably longer, since no exact figure is given.
• Saying the forest shrank or was cleared. It stayed unchanged.
• Forgetting the beach itself, which remains the link between the hotel, pool and jetty.

Examiner tip: Use the beach as a reference point, since the hotel, the pool and the extended jetty are all located around it and linking them to it makes the location language clear.