Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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)

Here is the comparision of two plans that shows the marking. Although there are four directions regarding Porth Harbour market. In 2000, there was no cafeteria on the life boat road but it has made up now. Moreover, there were showers, car parking places at the west side of the main raod. But now there had happen a mild change in the double car parking.

Hereby, in 2000 there was a castle in the public beach in mid of the road. In contrast, it has modified into a big hotel now. However there were three boating parkings in 2000 at the site of public beach. Now a little bit change has occured at this area. Hence there is only one or two parking area for the boats of the public passengers. Although the main entrance and the others feathers has brought sort of fluctuations but moderately.

To recapitulate, there is small amendment in the the major feathures of the Porth Harbour today rather than it was in 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response attempts to compare the two plans of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today, but it struggles significantly with accurate data reporting and task execution. While the writer manages to mention a few visible alterations, such as the addition of cafés and shops and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel, many descriptions are confused, vague, or factually inaccurate based on the provided visual data. For instance, the reference to 'three boating parkings' and the generalisations about passenger boat areas are unclear and misrepresent the shifting of the marina and fishing boats. Furthermore, the response lacks a clear, comprehensive overview of the principal changes. Consequently, the performance falls under Band 4.0 as it addresses the task only partially and tangentially with frequent inaccuracies.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The logical organization and progression of the essay are weak, resulting in a low score for coherence and cohesion. The text is divided into brief paragraphs, but the internal sequencing within paragraphs is frequently disrupted by unclear referencing and abrupt transitions, such as 'Hereby, in 2000' and 'Hence there is only one or two parking area'. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and often inappropriately, creating confusion regarding spatial relationships and comparisons between the two time periods. Paragraphing is attempted, but the overall progression of information fails to guide the reader smoothly through the map comparisons, aligning best with the Band 4 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The lexical range is quite limited and basic, resulting in noticeable vocabulary errors and unnatural phrasing throughout the response. Examples include non-standard collocations and word choices such as 'has made up now', 'double car parking', 'boating parkings', and 'feathers' instead of features. Words are frequently misused, such as 'mild change', 'fluctuations', and 'amendment' when describing geographical modifications on a map. Although some basic vocabulary items are recognizable, spelling and word-choice inaccuracies occur frequently and occasionally impede communication, placing the response firmly at Band 4.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

The grammatical structure of the essay is heavily restricted, featuring a high density of basic sentence errors and awkward phrasings. The writer attempts some complex structures with connectors like 'Although', but these attempts are frequently faulty or ungrammatical, as seen in 'Although there are four directions regarding Porth Harbour market' and 'there had happen a mild change'. Tense usage is inconsistent and confused when switching between past and present descriptions of the maps. Frequent errors in grammar and punctuation cause considerable difficulty for the reader and distort meaning at times, corresponding to a Band 4.0 score.

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