Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-06
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)
The plans compare the overall scenario of Porth Harbour in 2000 and today.
Overall, There are some significant upgrades in Porth Harbour from 2000 to today.
In 2000 there were only one Showers and toilets , while today the number increased from one to two. There are no changes in the cark park.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0
The response falls severely short of the minimum word length requirement of 150 words, containing only 53 words. Consequently, the task is addressed only minimally. The student attempts to identify a few changes, such as the increase in showers and toilets and the static nature of the car parks, but fails to provide a comprehensive overview or report the main features of the harbour transformations. Major developments, such as the relocation of the marina and fishing boats, the addition of cafés and shops, and the replacement of the disused castle with a hotel and private beach, are entirely omitted. To achieve a higher band, the writer must ensure the response meets the minimum word count and covers a much broader range of key features from the visual data.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5
The response demonstrates some basic organizational structure with an introductory sentence and an overall summary statement. However, because the text is extremely brief, it is difficult to evaluate paragraphing or logical progression across a full essay. Transition phrases are rudimentary, relying on simple connectors like 'Overall' and 'In 2000'. Referencing is generally clear within the limited sentences provided, but the lack of development prevents the establishment of a cohesive, well-connected argument. To improve cohesion, the writer should group related ideas into logical paragraphs and use a wider variety of cohesive devices to link spatial comparisons and sequential changes between the two maps.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, suiting a very limited range. Words like 'overall', 'scenario', and 'changes' are appropriately understood, but there are noticeable lexical errors, such as 'cark park' instead of 'car park'. The writer makes very little attempt to use less common vocabulary or paraphrasing to describe the transformations. To progress to a higher band, the student needs to expand their lexical repertoire by incorporating precise vocabulary related to maps and spatial changes, such as 'relocated', 'converted', 'expanded', and 'demolished', while avoiding spelling mistakes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5
The writer attempts a mix of simple structures, such as 'There are some significant upgrades' and 'In 2000 there were only one Showers and toilets'. However, there are noticeable grammatical inaccuracies, most notably subject-verb agreement errors like 'there were only one Showers and toilets' instead of 'there was only one set of showers and toilets'. Punctuation and capitalization errors also appear, such as the unnecessary capitalisation in 'There are some significant upgrades'. To improve, the student must practice basic agreement rules and attempt a wider range of error-free complex sentence structures to describe changes over time.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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