Tool or game
Lesson
Vocabulary: Places and directions for map questions
Listening Part 2 often includes a map. Learn the words for positions and places (opposite, next to, on the corner, crossroads) and test yourself on a simple town plan.
Words for position
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| next to / beside | right at the side of |
| opposite | on the other side, facing it |
| between A and B | with A on one side and B on the other |
| on the corner of | where two streets meet |
| at the end of | the last place along a road or path |
| behind / in front of | at the back / at the front |
| north / south / east / west of | the compass direction |
Places on IELTS maps
car park, footpath, pedestrian crossing, crossroads, roundabout, entrance, reception, café, toilets, picnic area, bridge
A tip for map questions
Find where you are first (usually "You are here" or the entrance). Then follow the speaker step by step: "Go past the café and turn left…"
Practise freely
Questions 1–5
Look at the town plan. North is at the top. Complete each sentence with ONE or TWO WORDS from the box.
| West | East | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Library | Café | Bank |
| Park | Town Square | Post office | |
| South | School | Supermarket | Cinema |
betweenoppositenext tocornersouth
-
The café is the library and the bank.
-
The post office is the park, on the other side of the square.
-
The supermarket is the school.
-
The cinema is in the south-east of the plan.
-
The supermarket is directly of the town square.
Questions 6–10
Match each word with its meaning, A–F. There is one meaning you don't need.
-
crossroads
-
roundabout
-
pedestrian crossing
-
footpath
-
car park
More vocabulary practice
Practice test
Cambridge IELTS Listening tests (Books 10–21)
PDF worksheet