Two Proposals for a Sports Ground

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. Plan A and Plan B for a sports ground beside a river.
2. Overview: the main difference is the stadium in Plan A against the athletics track and swimming pool in Plan B, while the houses, car park, river and road are the same in both.
3. Body 1: Plan A, with a stadium in the east of the field and the open field to its west.
4. Body 2: Plan B, with an athletics track in the centre and a swimming pool in the north-east, plus the features shared by both plans.

Key features to spot

• Plan A includes a stadium with a pitch and tiered seating in the east of the field.
• Plan B includes an athletics track in the centre of the field, with a grass area inside it.
• Plan B includes a swimming pool with lanes in the north-east, next to the river.
• The houses in the north-west, the car park in the south-east, the road and the river are the same in both plans.
• The main difference is the sporting facility: a stadium in Plan A, and a track and pool in Plan B.

Useful vocabulary

• Plan A proposes: Plan A proposes a stadium in the east of the field.
• in contrast: In contrast, Plan B includes an athletics track.
• whereas: Plan A has one large stadium, whereas Plan B has a track and a pool.
• is situated in the centre of: The athletics track is situated in the centre of the field.
• both plans retain: Both plans retain the houses in the north-west.
• a feature common to both: The car park is a feature common to both plans.
• in the north-east: The swimming pool is in the north-east.
• the same in both: The road and the river are the same in both plans.
• the main difference: The main difference is the sporting facility in the east.
• the open field: The open field occupies the western part of Plan A.

Common mistakes

• Saying which plan is better or more practical. The task does not allow judgements.
• Placing the stadium in Plan B. The stadium only appears in Plan A.
• Describing the car park as different. It is the same in both plans.
• Failing to state what stays the same, which is a required part of the comparison.
• Using field and pitch interchangeably. The field is the open ground, while the pitch is the playing surface inside the stadium.

Examiner tip: Compare the two plans feature by feature, then state clearly which features stay the same, since the shared features are as important as the differences in this task.