Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 4.0)

In this picture illustrating Porth Harbor difference between from since 2000 to today change the total and came more new shops in the main road beside.

Firstly talk about Porth Harbor 2000 having main road beside two road is there north east road shops is showers and toilets, car park, Marina private yachts, 2live boats, public beach, passenger ferries, furthermore down side road is there car park, fishing boats, life boat, public beach, and Castel disused is there have main shops in two roads in 2010

Secondly total modified in Porth Harbor in todays i will talk only newly added shops in upside road fishing boats, and also added one extra passenger ferries boat and down side road added cafes and shops, public beach to changed private beach and beach beside added one hotel this the comparison.

Finally i will conclude, in todays added some new shops this is the information and main features difference Porth harbor in 2000 and todays.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the changes in Porth Harbor, but it fails to provide a clear, accurate summary of the main features. The information is often confusing or factually inconsistent with the provided images (e.g., mentioning '2010' when the task specifies 'today'). The description of the harbor's layout is fragmented and lacks a logical overview or a clear comparison of the key developments. Many significant changes, such as the removal of the fishing boats or the addition of the hotel, are described in a way that is difficult to follow. The response lacks a clear summary of the overall trends, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the internal structure is weak. The use of cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'Finally' is mechanical and does not effectively link ideas. The sentences are often run-on or lack logical connection, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of the description. There is no clear logical flow between the past state and the current state, and the referencing is often unclear, leaving the reader to guess which part of the harbor is being described.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is very limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic nouns like 'shops', 'road', and 'beach'. There is a lack of precise terminology to describe urban planning or geographical changes (e.g., 'total modified' instead of 'underwent significant modifications'). Many phrases are awkward or grammatically incorrect, such as 'showers and toilets, car park, Marina private yachts, 2live boats', which reads more like a list than a descriptive analysis. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to convey the information clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are significant issues with sentence structure, verb tense, and word order (e.g., 'In this picture illustrating Porth Harbor difference between from since 2000 to today change the total'). The lack of proper punctuation and the misuse of prepositions make many sentences unintelligible. There is no evidence of complex sentence structures, and the basic sentences used are frequently flawed, which significantly hinders the reader's ability to understand the intended meaning.

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