This is a detailed analysis of all 23 IELTS Listening map tasks published in official Cambridge IELTS exam practice books 1 to 19 from 1995 to 2024. It starts with a summary of how the tasks are similar and different to each other, then there is a table going through each task in detail. This is designed to help make exam presentation and practice materials reflect the real test, and prioritise what to study. For over 350 pages of photocopiable IELTS Listening materials, including specific materials on map tasks and the parts of the test that maps are usually in, see https://www.usingenglish.com/e-books/ielts-listening/
Summary of official IELTS Listening map tasks
- In all but the oldest tests, map tasks are always in IELTS Listening Part 2, which is a monologue such as a tour guide describing the manor house that the listener will walk around
- Of the 20 Listening Part 2 map tasks, 18 have been of somewhere outside like a park, meaning that there have only been two maps inside buildings such as a plan of the rooms of a museum
- Of the 20 Part 2 map tasks, 12 have had north marked on the map, meaning places on the other 8 are described with expressions like “near the top of map” (similar to the situation with north being marked or not in IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 map tasks)
- Only two tests have had the map task at the beginning of Part 2, with it instead almost always coming after another task, most commonly multiple choice
- The map task has always been split from the other task by a pause
- Since 2011 (and in some tests before that), the map has always had names of places next to each number which need to be matched to lettered locations on the map, e.g. number 15 “stables” which by listening you can work out is location G in the top right corner of the map
- Map matching tasks always have extra locations which don’t need to be used, e.g. 5 questions and 8 locations, mostly commonly with three extra options like this example, but with many variations
- Locations are mostly commonly shown in the recording with positions (“between…”) and/ or with directions (“Take the second left then go right to end”)
- There are also sometimes other hints like shape (“the rectangular…”, “half circle”, “row of”), size (“the smallest of those buildings…”) and what that place overlooks (“There is a window looking out over…”, “with a great view of…”)
- The recordings can include some tricky language for giving directions and locations that aren’t often taught in English-language courses, most commonly expressions meaning “branches off/ leads off/ forks off from”, “(sharp/ right-angle) bend/ curve (in the road)”, “right/ just/ immediately/ directly”, “head towards”, “junction/ intersection”, “on the far/ opposite side of”, “beside/ adjoining”, plus the less common “row of”, “corridor”, and “separate”.
- Difficult language like that in the point above is almost always accompanied by some extra help in easier language, e.g. difficult directions together with easy language describing the location, or that location being the only lettered place in that general area
- Perhaps due to the other difficulties mentioned above, the tasks very rarely have typical IELTS trick phrases like “We were considering…, but…” (but see the Oddities section below for two exceptions)
- Similarly, the names of the places are never rephrased and there is very little other text in the tasks, so this is perhaps the only IELTS Listening task in which rephrasing is never likely to be an issue
Recent trends in IELTS Listening map tasks
- The map tasks in the first few official practice tests were all in IELTS Listening Part 1, but this hasn’t happened since 2002 and so is unlikely to occur again
- As mentioned above, no recent map tasks have been gapfill tasks, so there is no need for candidates to be able to spell “cathedral”, etc in map tasks
- Otherwise there are no noticeable changes in the range of number of questions, the number of extra options that aren’t needed, maps coming before or after the other task, what the other task in Listening Part Two is, how common or not trick phrases are, etc
Oddities/ Surprises about IELTS Listening map tasks
- There are two tasks (in 2021 and 2018) in which there is a key word on the map showing that the candidate should notice and listen out for future locations, which could lead to them missing all of the answers if they miss that part. The recordings of these two then have lots of trick phrases comparing the present and future (“from its current location… to…”) and/ or talking about cancelled and decided plans (“We had planned to…”). As the other language in those examples is not clearly easier than other map tasks, this simply makes these map tasks much more difficult than usual. In one case, that also makes for a record-breaking number of such trick phrases over the whole recording. This therefore seems like a mistake by the test writers in these cases, and so unlikely to occur in the real test.
Conclusions
- To prepare them for what they are likely to have to do, candidates should mainly practice with exterior maps with north given which have another task such as multiple choice then a map task matching numbered places to locations A to… on the map. These tasks should have a wide range of language showing directions, locations and other hints such as shapes, including some tricky language like “sharp bend”, but with few or no trick phrases such as “We had expected…”
- They should also do a little practice with less common variations, especially maps without north given, and maybe an interior map to get used to language like “corridor”
- There is no need to practise maps with trick phrases like “This used to be… but…” as that is rare with maps, maybe just a mistake in the two examples described above, and such a common feature of other IELTS Listening tasks like multiple choice that they’ll get more than enough practice anyway
Year-by-year detailed analysis of official Cambridge IELTS Listening map tasks
The columns below show the test and the year it was published, the kind of map task and other task(s), the situation/ speakers, useful directions and trick phrases, and what if anything makes the tasks particularly tricky. A star (*) mean a surprising point such as something that is different in all the other tests.
| book test year | tasks | who/ why | useful language (with tricky language in bold) | tricky points |
| 19/ 1 2024 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to H with 16 farm shop etc with 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 – to members of town twinning association about future activities inc. historic home visit | You can see... at the bottom of the map, 16 the first building you come to, built round a courtyard, in the far corner on the left, X on the right as you go in, 17 on the far side of... from the..., 18 at the northern end of the larger..., in a bend on the path that leads to..., 19 near, rectangular, surrounded by a wall, to the north-east of..., quite near, 20 a bit more of a walk, take the path from... and go past the western side of..., when the path forks take the right-hand path, go up there with the... on your left, ... is right at the end, there are great views over the whole area | “on the far side of…” with no extra hints |
| 18/ 2 2023 | 2 – choose 2 options, map match locations A to I with 15 school etc 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 – PR for housing development | You’ll see it’s bounded on the south side by the main road which then does on to..., another boundary is formed by..., on the western side of..., inside... there’ll be..., 15 if you look at the South Entrance at the bottom of the map, there’s a road from there that goes right up through the development, ... will be on that road, on the corner of the second turning to the left, 16 a large... is planned, on the western side of..., just below..., the road that branches off from..., 17 Can you see... towards the top of the map?,... will be just below this, to the right of a street of..., 18 on the northeast side of..., a row of..., adjoining..., 19 between the two..., near, just to the south of..., 20 if you look at the road that goes up from..., you’ll see that it curves round to the left at the top, in that curve, with nice view of | No extra hints for “adjoining” (though only one place in that general area), difficult if don’t understand “curve” |
| 16/1 2021 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to J to 15 coffee room etc with 4 extra options no north given exterior | 1 – manager to new work experience students | 15 As you can see, we’re in..., there’s a corridor running left from here, if you go along that, the door facing you at the end is the entrance to..., this looks out onto the... on one side and... on the other, 16 very big room, on the far side of..., next to it is..., which can be accessed by... going up the road to the turning area at the end, you can get to... by crossing to the far side of..., then the door is on your right, 17 right next to, the windows on one side look onto... and on the other onto..., 18 you’ll find it by walking along the corridor to the left of... and continuing along... to the end, the... is the last one on the right, no natural light, 19 at the front of..., you head to the left along the corridor from..., it’s the second room you come to, 20 it looks out onto..., go along the corridor past... right to the end, the... in on the left next to... |
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| 16/4 2021 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to I with 15 new car park etc with 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 + brief intro – local councillor explaining traffic and recreation ground after changes | if you have a look at the map up on the screen you can see the... up in the north, near the entrance from the road, at present... but we’re suggesting..., between... and the line of... to the east, on the opposite side of..., right next to..., to the east of..., beyond..., we plan to move it away from its current location into this new area, rather near, beyond the line of..., accessible by a footpath from..., will be alongside..., we’d originally thought of having it... but..., close to..., we had considered moving this... but in the end we decided..., in the southeastern corner, it will stay where it is now, to the left of the line of..., near to..., handy for both... and..., directly on your right as you go from... into... | need to notice important words “after proposed changes” in the task to know which locations to choose*, most answers have trick phrases like “we had considered…” followed by not the right answer* |
| 15/2 2020 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to I with 15 statue etc with 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 + brief intro – project leader to local residents | If you look at this map, you’ll see the familiar outline of..., with the... forming the northern boundary and a gate in each of the other three walls, it used to be close to.... but it’s now..., immediately to the north of..., almost in the centre of..., on the river bank, where the path from the east gate makes a sharp bend, between... and the path that leads from... to..., circular series of paths, separated by..., near..., you go north from there towards...., and then turn left to reach it, they’re still..., in the southwest corner of..., where’s there’s a right-angle bend in the path, right next to..., on the same side as... | just one trick phrase “it used to… but it’s now…” |
| 15/4 2020 | 2 – first task* map match locations A to H with 11 café etc with 2 extra options north given exterior, choose 2 options | 1 – chair of the council committee on parks | the basic arrangement of... hasn’t changed it still has two games north and south and... in the middle, ... is still in the same place, looking out over..., next to..., bring them nearer to the centre of..., near..., in the corner of your map, they used to be behind... but we’ve now used the space near..., between... and the path that goes past... towards..., by..., just to the right of the path from..., it’s a bit hidden in the trees, near..., at the end of a little path that leads from the main path, on the bend in the path that goes round the east side of..., just to the south of... | just one trick phrase “they used to be… but we’ve now…” |
| 14/2 2019 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to H with 16 starting point etc with 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 – tour guide to visitors | If you take a look at your plans you’ll see... has four towers joined together by a high wall with... on two sides, near..., in the main tower the biggest one, if you want to get a good view of... you can walk around..., the starting point’s quite near the main entrance, walk straight down... until you get to... and it’s just there, don’t go onto... there’s no way up from here, the quickest way to get there is to take the first left after... follow the path past..., then you’ll see it in front of you at the end, go from the main entrance in the direction of..., but turn right before you get there instead of going through it, you’ll see it on your right past..., right at the other side of... from the entrance, over the bridge, it’s about ten minutes’ walk or so, inside one of... the way in is from..., just take the first left after..., go down the path, take the first right | Two trick phrases/ hint phrases “Don’t go onto…” and “instead of…” |
| 13/1 2018 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to I with 14 new traffic lights etc 7 questions* 2 extra options north given exterior | 1 – person in charge of traffic to the public traffic changes | but overall it’s..., we’d expected... but this wasn’t top of the list SPLIT this slide shows a map of the central area of... with the High Street in the middle and ... Road on the right, we already have... but we’re planning to have another..., in the High Street at the junction with... Road, at the other end of..., at the... Road junction, we considered... but in the end we decided.. so..., just outside..., locate it on the High Street, crossing the road, in front of..., at present... isn’t allowed... but we’re going to change that, just the entrance to... | Key word “changes” at the top of the map needs to be noticed to be able to pick out the right locations*, lots of trick phrases like “We considered… but in the end…”* |
| 12/8 2017 | 2 – multiple choice, map match locations A to I with 15 Reynolds House etc with 3 extra options north given exterior | 1 – podcast* about old part of the city | If you look at our map you’ll see..., Most visitors start from.... at the bottom of the map, It’s on the north side of... Road, next to the footpath that leads to..., you’ll see it on... Road, across the road from the..., on the east side of..., on... Road, on the other side of the road from..., immediately facing the junction with... Road, on a little road that leads of... Square, not far from..., the road ends at...., near the junction with... Road, on the same side of the road as..., up through... Square, east along ... Road until you get to a small winding road turning off, go up there, it’s on your right, if you get to... Road you’ve gone too far | Only one trick phrase, and that has lots of accompanying other descriptions |
| 11/1 2016 | 2 – 1 word only gapfill, map match location A to I with 15 scarecrow etc 3 extra options no north given exterior | 1 – museum staff explaining a heritage farm | immediately to your right, we’re now at the beginning of the main path to the farmland, ...is on your left, in the corner, beside the main path, if you look ahead of you you’ll see..., it’s opposite..., beside the side path that branches off to the right just over there, quite small, the bridge crossing the fish pool, further up the main path, if you want to go to... go towards..., turn right just before it, walk along the side path, ... is on the first bend you come to, if you take the side path to the right here, just by..., you’ll come to... just where the path first bends, there’s one near..., just after you cross..., on the right, through the field to the left of..., that goes to..., it’ll give you a lovely view of it |
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| 11/2 2016 | 2 – choose 2 options, map match locations A to G with 17 box office etc only 4 questions* 3 extra options no north given interior | 1 – theatre guide for new staff | standing here in..., part of this building, next door, with a separate entrance from the road, you go across... and through..., turn right, it’s in the room at the end of the corridor with the door on the left, at the back of the building, when you’re through... turn left, turn right at the... and right again at the end, it’s the second room along the corridor, has a window into the..., through the..., turn right and it’s the first room you come to on the right-hand side |
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| 11/4 2016 | 2 –matching choose 6 answers, map match locations A to H with 17 restaurant etc only 4 questions* 4 extra options* no north given interior | 1 –museum tour guide before tour starts | to reach it go straight ahead to the far side of... the turn right into the corridor, you’ll see the door facing you, go straight ahead, turn right into the corridor, ... is immediately on your right, cross the..., find... on the left-hand side, on the left-hand side of..., through the last door before you come to... |
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| 9/2 2013 | 3 – no more than 3 words gapfill, multiple choice, map match locations A to I with 17 bird hide etc with 5 extra options* only 4 questions* north given exterior | 1 – club leader on wildlife in London | you can see the two gates into the park and the main paths, as you can see there’s a lake in the northwest of the park, at the end of the path, fairly close to..., in the southern part of..., leading off from the path, that’s the circular area on the map surrounded by paths, in the western section of the park, between two paths |
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| 8/2 2011 | 3 – multiple choice 1 question only*, map no more than 2 words gapfill north given exterior only 3 questions*, multiple choice | 1 – tour guide to agri park to visitors | as you walk out of the main door into the park there’s a path you can follow, if you follow this route you will immediately come into..., next to this moving east is..., then further east in the largest section of... is..., south of... and in fact just next to..., in the middle of..., this circular area is..., these two small rectangular shapes here are..., to the east of those is..., in the southeastern corner beyond... is... |
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| 8/4 2011 | 2 – multiple choice, map matching locations A to H to 14 trees etc with only 1 extra option* no north given exterior | 2* – interview of local councillor on local radio with questions and answers* about plan | on the map we’ve marked the proposed changes, just to the right of... in... Road, on the corner of.... and..., at the entry to..., at the junction of... Street and ... Street, halfway down... Street where it crosses... Road, on the other side of... Street from..., at the other end of... Street close to the intersection with... Street |
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| 7/2 2009 | 3 – first task map* no more than 2 words gapfill only 2 questions* north given exterior, no more than 2 words and/ or a no gapfill, no more than 3 words and/ or a no gapfill | 1 – recorded phone message with tourist info* | from west to east..., you can find... at..., besides..., |
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| 7/4 2009 | 3 – multiple choice, map no more than 2 words gapfill* north given exterior, no more than 2 words gapfill | 1 – tour guide on a park | out to the east, the large buildings about a kilometre away are..., if you look out here to the south you can see..., around to the west..., up to the north if you look in front of you now there’s..., a small lake with an island in the centre, if you look through the trees you can see..., which has lovely views across... |
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| 6/3 2007 | 3 – multiple choice, map match locations A to J to 14 Pear Alley etc 6 extra options* no north given exterior, 1 word only gapfill (not on map but continuing the directions with gapped descriptions*) | 1 – tour guide on gardens | we’re here at..., follow the path marked with an arrow and first area you come to is the... on your left, as you go further down the path there’s a... on the right, as you go around the first sharp corner you will find to your left..., next to this is..., follow the path round the second corner and on your right you will see the entrance to..., past... follow the path until you reach the front of..., leave the house by the side entrance where you will find..., on the far side of..., cross the... which spreads along the banks of the river, cross the... then continue along..., eventually you come to..., take the first turning on your left and climb up to... |
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| 4/1 2005 | 2 – no more than 3 words and/ or no gapfill, map no more than 2 words gapfill no north given exterior
| 1 – museum staff on industrial village museum | I’ve already pointed out... which is on the left, running along the bottom is..., we’re standing at the entrance, see it at the bottom, immediately to our right is..., just past it are..., in front of us is... as you can see, to the left, by the..., beyond..., all the... are arranged in a half-circle with... in the middle, big, at the top, in the top right corner, with bigger windows, in the top left corner, on one side of that you can see... and on the other is..., the row of buildings that you can see on the left are..., across the yard from them, the separate building in front of them is... |
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| 3/2 2002 | (map in Part 1), 2 – no more than 2 words gapfill, nos or no more than 3 words* gapfill (with nos and spelling so much more like Part 1*) | 1 – student union staff to students on helpline | (Part 1: you came in through... here, now we’re here at..., to get to...you walk on to the end of this corridor in front of you and then you turn left, walk along past... and then past... which is next to... on the same side, facing you is..., at the end of the corridor, next to..., you go down to the end of this corridor again but this time don’t turn left, turn right away from..., ... is immediately to your right, near..., on the left over there, just opposite..., very close to where we are now, to the right of... as you come in the main entrance |
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| 3/3 2002 | 3 – no more than 3 words and/ or no gapfill, no more than 3 words gapfill, map gapfill with mixed answers* no north given exterior | 1 – sports centre staff to potential clients | this room we are in at the moment is called..., on the other side of the reception area there is a...., in a separate building..., it’s on the other side of..., at the far end of..., |
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| 3/4 2002 | (map in Part 1), 1* – no more than 3 words and matching choose A B or C in the same task*, | 1 + brief info – radio report from home exhibition | (map in Part 1 next to, opposite us, on the corner, there’s a... on the other street corner) |
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| 1/3 1996 | (map in Part 1*), 1* – no more than 3 words gapfill | 1 –tour guide on maritime museum | (map in Part 1 past the... on your left, ... is on your right, opposite the... on your left, up... Road) |
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