Two Plans for a Museum Site

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 plans. Plan A and Plan B for a new museum near an old library, a park and a station.
2. Overview: Plan A places the museum north of the library and keeps the car park, while Plan B removes the car park and adds a museum, cafe and garden.
3. Body 1: Plan A, with the museum between the park and the old library and the large car park to the east.
4. Body 2: Plan B, with the museum in the north-east, the cafe beside the library and the garden in the south-east, plus the features both plans keep.

Key features to spot

• Plan A places a long, low museum building between the park and the old library.
• Plan A keeps a large car park in the east of the site.
• Plan B puts a more compact museum in the north-east, on the site of the car park.
• Plan B adds a cafe between the old library and the new museum, and a garden with a roundabout in the south-east.
• The park, the old library, the station, the river and the road are the same in both plans.

Useful vocabulary

• Plan A places: Plan A places the new museum between the park and the old library.
• in contrast: In contrast, Plan B removes the car park.
• is removed: The car park is removed in Plan B.
• is situated between: The cafe is situated between the library and the museum.
• in the south-east: The garden is in the south-east, close to the station.
• to the east of the library: The car park is to the east of the old library.
• in both plans: The station and the park are the same in both plans.
• is replaced by: The car park is replaced by the museum and the garden.
• a compact building: Plan B shows a more compact museum building.
• beside the old library: The cafe is beside the old library.

Common mistakes

• Judging which plan is more attractive or suitable. The task asks for a description only.
• Placing the museum in Plan B to the south of the library. It is in the north-east.
• Including the car park in Plan B. It is removed in that plan.
• Describing the garden as part of Plan A. The garden appears only in Plan B.
• Leaving out the station, which is one of the features that stays the same in both plans.

Examiner tip: Describe Plan A and Plan B separately, then the features they share, since the car park is the key difference and the old library works well as a fixed reference point.