Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-21
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show the site of a farm in 1950 and the same site today.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Student answer (Band 4.0)
i looking to both plans this image one 150 and second today plans, that pictures beechwood
first image showing one track,sheep,fruit,soft fruit,vegtable,farmhouse, bran anad chivkens
today beechwood farm, and according to 1950 ,while today farm mostly changes this farm before fram trck and new road, this photoes right hand side some land of for frams,there new holiday cottage and one farmhouse.
river is vry importent for farming, beacuse water is very helpfull, this graden fruit trees, soft, vegtable,and one fram shop.
this image camping field, praking and according to 1950 of today very big change
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0
The response falls significantly short of the required 150-word minimum, containing only 95 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, leading to an automatic penalty under the length requirement. While the student attempts to identify some elements from both maps—such as the track, sheep, fruit trees, and the newly introduced holiday cottages and farm shop—the information is presented in a fragmented, highly descriptive manner without a clear overall summary or well-developed comparisons. Major features like the expansion of infrastructure and parking areas are mentioned very vaguely. To achieve a higher band, the candidate must meet the word count requirement, provide a clear overarching summary, and methodically contrast the key transformations between 1950 and the present day.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The text lacks clear logical organisation and paragraphing. The response is divided into brief, disconnected stanzas rather than cohesive paragraphs that group related spatial changes. Cohesive devices are largely absent or misused, making it difficult for the reader to follow a logical progression from the 1950 map to the current layout. Referencing between sentences is weak, and transitions between ideas are abrupt. For instance, the jump from mentioning the river to the camping field disrupts the flow. Improving coherence requires organising the essay into a clear introduction with an overview, followed by well-structured body paragraphs comparing specific zones of the farm using appropriate transition signals.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The lexical range is very limited and inadequate for an Academic Task 1 response. The student relies on basic, repetitive vocabulary and makes numerous spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'bran' for barn, 'chivkens' for chickens, 'fram' and 'frams' for farm, and 'praking' for parking. There is little attempt to use less common lexical items or synonyms to describe spatial changes, with the writer continuously repeating terms like 'farm', 'today', and 'image'. To improve, the student needs to expand their control of spelling and incorporate appropriate vocabulary for describing map changes, such as 'demolished', 'converted', 'redeveloped', and 'extended'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
Grammatical range and accuracy are severely limited. The response consists mostly of fragmented, ungrammatical clauses rather than complete, well-formed sentences. Examples of serious grammatical and structural flaws include 'i looking to both plans this image one 150 and second today plans' and 'while today farm mostly changes this farm before fram trck and new road'. There is a complete lack of control over complex structures, and tense usage is erratic. Punctuation and capitalization are also neglected. To raise this score, the student must focus on foundational sentence construction, ensuring that every sentence contains a clear subject and finite verb, and learn how to write complex sentences accurately.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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