Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
In IELTS Listening Part 2 you sometimes see a map (a park, a town, a campus) or a plan (the inside of a building). Some places are already named. Others have a letter or a number, and you must choose the correct letter for each place in the list.
The speaker is usually a guide or a manager who walks the listener through the area. The places in the questions come in the same order as the audio, and the speaker moves logically from one place to the next. If you lose track, use the next given label to find your way back.
The hardest part is not the vocabulary. It is keeping your place on the map while the speaker moves. That is why the short preparation time before the audio is so important.
| Meaning | What you might hear |
|---|---|
| Next to | right beside, alongside, adjacent to, just by |
| Across from | opposite, facing, on the other side of the path |
| Across and to one side | diagonally opposite |
| Past something | beyond, just after, further along |
| At the end | at the far end, in the far corner, as far as you can go |
| Change direction | turn left, bear right, take the second path on your left |
| Where paths meet | at the crossroads, at the junction, where the paths cross |
| Compass points | the northern end, on the east side, to the south of |
Imagine you are walking along a path on a map where north is at the top. Choose the correct answer.
Before the audio, a strong listener puts a finger on the main entrance, notices that north is at the top, and sees that the given labels are Lake, Car park and Woodland.
Notice that F is never used. Exam maps usually have more letters than questions, so expect some letters you do not need.
Listen to the tour and look at the plan of Riverside Arts Centre. Match each place to the correct letter, A–H. There are two letters you do not need.
Listen to the phone call and complete the notes. Write ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER for each answer.
Listen and type each sentence exactly as you hear it. These phrases appear in almost every map task.
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“The toilets are opposite the visitor centre.”
“The bank is diagonally opposite the post office.”
“The bird hide is just beyond the lake.”
“The cloakroom is adjacent to the stairs.”
“Turn right at the crossroads.”
“Wait for me at the junction by the lift.”
“When the path divides, bear left towards the woods.”
“The exhibition hall is in the far corner of the building.”
“The café terrace overlooks the lake.”
“Take the second exit at the roundabout.”
“Follow the riverside footpath for two hundred metres.”
