IELTS Listening Map Labelling

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Updated On Feb 09, 2024

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In IELTS Listening, there will be a visual representation based on which you have to answer some questions with information from the audio. One of these visual representations may be a map. The IELTS Listening map labeling is usually in Section 2 of the test, but there are chances that you’ll get a map in any of the sections.

For the IELTS Listening map labeling section, you hear a monologue. It is usually a map related to some tours. You’ve to connect the information that you hear in the listening audio to the blanks on the map.

Sometimes, you are provided with a list of words, and you have to choose the correct name to fit in the map. Other times, there are no words, and you would have to listen to the audio keenly and answer the questions.

The map below is an example of the second type – no list of words are given, so you have to identify them yourself.

Before you begin answering the question below, pay attention to the words which might give you an idea of the location of the room. Here is a simple list of words that you’ll need for IELTS Listening map labeling.

At the top / at the bottom
On the left / on the right
Left-hand side / right-hand side
South / North / East / West
Southeast / Southwest / Northeast / Northwest
To the north / the south / the east / to the west
Opposite / in front of / behind
In the middle / in the center
Above / below
Inside / outside
Just beyond / a little beyond / just past
Next to / alongside / adjoining (= next to or joined with)

Map Labelling Example:

Listen to this audio and write the correct letter A-H, next to questions 16-20.

map label

Box office ________
Children’s room ________
Café _______
Multimedia room ________
Showroom ________

Did you get them, right? Check the answers below:

Answers:

How did you identify the rooms? What kind of language led you to the answers?

Let’s take a look at the audio script:

I am delighted to show you the plans for a proposed new extension to the reception area. Please turn your attention to the project in front of you. If you enter through the entrance doors and go around the shop corner, you will find on your left the new box office. From this position, the box office manager can both sell tickets and ensure that no visitors can enter the museum without paying. From here, if you walk towards the door on the far left, you will come across on your way, a children’s room where visitors can leave their children to play whilst they explore other spectators. Directly to the right to the children’s room is when we originally intended to locate the café, but we felt that it would be better placed in the bottom right corner of the plan where we can create a more intimate atmosphere. Due to generous donations, we now have the available funds to build a fantastic new multimedia room where visitors will have access to computers, cameras, and TVs. This exciting new space will be in the top right corner but it is safely away from the entrance doors. Finally, the showroom will be built in the top left corner directly opposite the new multimedia room. I hope that you are all as excited about these new spaces as I am. Now that I am finished, I would be happy to answer any questions.

Given in red is the language of location – with these words, you were able to identify the exact location of the rooms.

Given in purple are the places that can be used for reference to locate the rooms on the map. It will help you identify the location on the map.

Map Labelling Example 2:

Listen to the audio and answer the questions:

Questions :

Map :

Look at the map of the Sports Complex below.

Label the buildings on the map of the Sports Complex.

Choose your answers from the below list and write them against questions 17-20.

Arts studio

Football pitch

Tennis courts

Dance studio

Fitness room

Reception area

Squash courts

map for listening

Transcript:

Section 2:

So what exactly are the facilities? What sports can you play here? Well. This room we are in at the moment is called the Main Hall and it is used mainly for team sports such as football, volleyball and basketball but also for badminton and aerobics. On the other side of the reception area, there’s the dance studio. This provides a small or more intimate space which we use for ballet, modern dance and martial arts. Not at the same time, ofcourse. Then in a separate building, which you may have noticed on your way here, it’s on the other side of the car park, there are the squash courts. Six of them. And at the far end of the building, a fitness room. This is our newest facility only completed in the spring. But it’s already proving to be one of the most popular. As well as all these facilities available here on the campus, we also have an arrangement with the local tennis club, which is only two miles away entitling our students to use their courts on weekday mornings, in the summer. So I think there should be something here for everybody and I hope to see all of you at the centre making use of the facilities. If in the course of the year you have any suggestions as to how the service we provide might be improved or its appeal widened, I will be interested to hear from you.

Answers:

Reception area
Dance studio
Squash courts
Fitness room

Explanation for the answers:

For the 17th question and 18th question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus : On the other side of the reception area, there’s the dance studio.

So the answer for the 17th question is “Reception area” and answer for the 18th question is “dance studio”.

For the 19th question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus :

Then in a separate building, which you may have noticed on your way here, it’s on the other side of the car park, there are the squash courts. Six of them

So the answer for the 19th question is “Squash courts”.

For the 20th question, it is clear from the talk which goes thus :

And at the far end of the building, a fitness room.

So the answer for the 20th question is “Fitness room”.

Also check :

Frequently Asked Questions

How to answer Map Labelling questions?

In order to answer Map Labelling type of questions in the IELTS Listening test, listen to the audio carefully, read the instructions and labels, and visualize the map diagram. The answers will come in the same order in the recording as they're listed in the question. Ensure to answer with a single letter or word, or phrase with correct grammatical sense

Name some vocabulary of direction

Common vocabulary of directions are "turn right, go past, turn left, head south, go straight on, and northwest". These vocabularies will help the test-taker visualize the area and directional arrows on the map

Mention some tips to attempt the Map Labelling questions

Some of the tips to follow while attempting the Map Labelling questions are reading the instructions, knowing the vocabulary, understanding the context, guessing the answers while listening, paying attention to other clues on the map and avoiding spelling mistakes

What are the things to avoid while doing the Map Labelling questions?

A test-taker must avoid wasting time before and after listening to the audio, i.e., they should multi-task by actively listening and answering the questions. Avoid getting distracted with direction words and make sure to write answers for all the questions, even if they seem to be challenging

What is the primary objective of the Map Labelling questions?

The key objective of the Map Labelling question is to connect the information that a test-taker hears in the audio to the gaps in the map. On some maps, there'll be a list of words, and the test-taker will have to choose the correct word that fits on the map