Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-04
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 plans below illustrate a collage cafe before it was redesigned and how it looks now. overall the collage cafe before redesign the serving area changed the hot meals.Collage cafe redesign the kitchen is remind unchanged.Collage cafe area before redesign tables and chairs opposite side converted the salad bar.Cafe before redesign the staff dining room area so today converted is take away food and coffee bar.Cafe before redesign the toilets place unchanged.Cafe before the bin place today converted is recycling bins.Collage cafe before redesign was place tables and chairs unchanged.Cafe before redesign left the out side Added the barbecue.So today is added place outdoor seating area.The many tables and chairs added the outdoor seating area.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 3.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5
The response fails to meet the minimum length requirement of 150 words, coming in at only 105 words, with 10 words copied directly from the prompt. While the student attempts to highlight several changes between the two plans—such as the conversion of the staff dining room into a takeaway food and coffee bar, the addition of a salad bar, and the inclusion of outdoor seating with a barbecue—the information is presented in a very disjointed and minimal way. Key features are noted, but the lack of an overarching summary or coherent reporting means the task is only minimally addressed. To improve, the writer must ensure they write at least 150 words, group related changes logically, and provide a clear overview of the main transformations.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 3.0
Information and ideas are not arranged coherently in this response. There is a complete lack of paragraphing, with all sentences crammed together in a single block of text. Furthermore, the sentences do not follow a logical progression or chronological flow. Instead of using cohesive devices or transitional phrases to guide the reader through the comparison, the writer relies on repetitive phrasing like 'Collage cafe before redesign' and 'So today'. Pronoun referencing and substitution are missing, making the text read as a disconnected list of raw observations rather than a structured report. Improving this area requires organising the writing into clear paragraphs, utilizing appropriate linking words for comparison, and ensuring smooth transitions between ideas.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and heavily reliant on direct lifting or misspellings from the prompt, such as 'collage' instead of 'college'. Words are repeated frequently throughout the short text, including 'cafe', 'redesign', 'before', 'tables and chairs', and 'added'. There is no evidence of less common lexical items or paraphrasing. Furthermore, word choice errors—such as using 'remind unchanged' instead of 'remain unchanged'—strain the reader's understanding. To reach a higher band, the student needs to build a wider range of vocabulary to describe spatial changes, use synonyms for recurring terms, and demonstrate greater precision in word choice and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0
The grammatical range is very limited, consisting almost entirely of short, broken phrases and severely faulty sentence structures. There is an absence of complex structures, and basic grammatical patterns are frequently mishandled. Examples of errors include awkward phrasing like 'the bin place today converted is recycling bins' and incorrect verb forms such as 'the kitchen is remind unchanged'. Punctuation is also poorly handled, with run-on phrasing and missing articles throughout the text. To improve, the student must focus on constructing complete, grammatically sound sentences with accurate subject-verb agreement, correct prepositions, and proper verb tenses suitable for describing visual data.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.