Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
The plans below show a college cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now.
Student answer (Band 4.0)
THE GIVEN PICTURE DEPICTS THE INFORMATION REGARDING A MAP OF CAFE HOW IT LOOKS IN PAST AND WHATS ARE THEY MADE NIOW.
IT IS LUCID,NOW IN SOUTH WEST CORNER A BARBBEQUE HAS BEEN CONTSUCTION WITH THE OUTDOOR SEATING IN SOUTH SIDE.WHERAS, TOILET REMAINS SAME AS IN PAST HOWEVER A RECYCLING BIN HAS BEEN ADDED IN EAST DIRECTION.MOREOVER, COFFEE BAR AND TAKEAWAY FOOD BUILT IN NORTH SIDE. KITCHEN REMAINED SAME WHILE SERVING AREA REPLACED WITH HOT MEAL.
PROBING FURTHER, BEFORE IT WAS REDESIGNED INTHE CENTRE OF CAFE TV HERE WERE ONLY TABLE AND CHAIRS WHEREAS STAFF DINING ROOM WERE REPLACED WITH TAKEAWAY FOOD AND COFFEE BAR IN NORTH SIDE.FURTHERMORE, TOILETS WERE SAME WHILE BIN HAD BEEN EXTENDED INTO RECYCLING BIN.
OVERALL, IT IS EVIDENT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW FACILITIES IN COLLEGE CAFE SUCH AS SALAD BAR, BARBECUE AND OUTDOOR SEATING.CAFE HAS INSTALLED MORE FACILITIES
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5
The response attempts to describe the changes shown in the two maps of the college cafe, noting key alterations such as the addition of a barbecue, outdoor seating, a salad bar, and a recycling bin, alongside the replacement of staff dining rooms with a coffee bar and takeaway food. However, the task achievement is severely compromised by several factors. First, the word count is 144 words, falling short of the mandatory 150-word minimum, leading to a penalty. Second, the information is presented in a fragmented, highly repetitive manner with many points stated unclearly or inaccurately (e.g., stating the kitchen remained the same while the serving area became hot meals, but confusing descriptions across paragraphs). Furthermore, the overview lacks coherence and does not adequately summarize the main trends. Overall, the response addresses the task only partially.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The organizational structure of the text is weak. The writing is divided into very short paragraphs, but progression is difficult to follow due to disjointed phrasing, repetition of points (such as mentioning the toilets and takeaway areas twice), and a lack of clear logical links between sentences. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as 'PROBING FURTHER' and 'WHERAS', which fail to establish proper relationships between ideas. Paragraphing is present, but the internal flow within paragraphs is heavily disrupted by poor sentence boundary punctuation and capitalization errors. As a result, the overall arrangement lacks a clear, logical progression throughout.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.0
The range of vocabulary is extremely limited and basic, with frequent spelling mistakes ('BARBBEQUE', 'CONTSUCTION', 'WHERAS', 'NIOW') and severe word-form or collocation errors, such as 'CAFE HOW IT LOOKS IN PAST AND WHATS ARE THEY MADE NIOW' and 'CAFE HAS INSTALLED MORE FACILITIES'. There are repeated attempts to use basic spatial terms, but vocabulary choices remain overly simplistic and imprecise. The numerous errors in word choice, spelling, and formation frequently strain the reader and impede clear communication, aligning the response with the lower band criteria.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0
Grammatical control is very weak throughout the response. The text contains numerous major sentence structure errors, missing articles, incorrect verb tenses, and pervasive punctuation issues, including writing entirely in capital letters. Examples of severe errors include 'WHATS ARE THEY MADE NIOW', 'A BARBBEQUE HAS BEEN CONTSUCTION', and incomplete clauses like 'CAFE HAS INSTALLED MORE FACILITIES' without proper object completion. Simple sentence forms are frequently mishandled, and complex structures are virtually absent or structurally incorrect. Frequent errors cause substantial difficulty for the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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