Let’s dive into another IELTS test, which includes a lot of directional descriptions in both formal and informal contexts.
An Example from IELTS 7 Test 4 Section 2
The map and its original descriptive script (original audio file) are provided below.
Well, here we are (1) at the top of the tower, and we’re going to look at the view from each direction. (2) Out to the east, the large buildings about a kilometre away are on the Olympic site. There’s an indoor arena for gymnastics, a stadium for track and field, and a swimming pool for races and synchronised swimming and also diving. If you look carefully (3) down there, you can see the train lines. The Olympic site has its own station to encourage the use of public transport. There is also a car park, but it only holds a limited number of cars.
The formal park has some specially-created water features. If you (4) look out here to the south, you can see a circular ornamental pond.
And (5) around to the west, you can relax and sit on a bench to smell the flowers in the rose garden, and finally (6) up to the north, if you look (7) in front of you now, there’s a lake with a small island (8) in the centre, you can hire rowing boats at the boat shed, which you can’t see from here, but if you look (9) through the trees, you can see the café, which has lovely views (10) across the water. OK, let’s climb down now. We will go now and have a look at the nature reserve section of the park, which has opened up natural wetland to the public.
…
This is (11) the far end of the park and (12) over there, you can see the Frog Pond, a natural feature here long before the park was designed. (13) Next to it, we have our outdoor classroom, a favourite spot for school parties. The area is now most often used by primary schools for biology lessons.
And finally let’s (14) pass by the Waterbird Refuge. This area is in a sheltered part of the estuary, that’s why the park’s viewing shelter is a favourite spot for bird watchers who can use it to spy through binoculars. You can watch a variety of water birds, but most visitors expect to see black swans when they come to the shelter. You might spot one yourself right now!
Well, here we are (15) back at our starting point, the Visitor Centre.
Key Collocations for Directions
| # | Collocation | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | At the top of The Tower | Refers to the highest point of The Tower, indicating a specific location. |
| 2 | Out to the east | Refers to something located in the eastern direction, away from the speaker. |
| 3 | Down there | Points to a location at a lower elevation or farther away from the current position. |
| 4 | Look out here to the south | Encourages the listener to look toward the southern direction from the current spot. |
| 5 | Around to the west | Describes something located westward, after moving around or changing direction. |
| 6 | Up to the north | Indicates something located northward and possibly uphill or in an upward direction. |
| 7 | In front of you | Points to something directly ahead of the speaker or listener. |
| 8 | In the centre | Refers to something located at the midpoint of an area or object. |
| 9 | Through the trees | Indicates something visible or accessible by looking past or between trees. |
| 10 | Across the water | Refers to something located on the opposite side of a body of water from the speaker. |
| 11 | The far end of the park | Refers to a location situated at the most distant point of the park. |
| 12 | Over there | Refers to something farther away in the general direction being indicated. |
| 13 | Next to it | Refers to something located immediately beside or adjacent to a mentioned point. |
| 14 | Pass by the Waterbird Refuge | Indicates moving past a specific location or feature. |
| 15 | Back at our starting point | Refers to returning to the initial location after a journey or tour. |
You can use the sequential number (#1 – #15)) to refer back to the origial script for a sepcific collocation.
