Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-02

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You enjoy walking in the countryside near your home. However, you are noticing that there is more and more litter left there by other walkers.

Write a letter to your local newspaper. In your letter

• say why you enjoy walking and where

• describe the litter you have seen on your walks

• suggest what might be done about the problem

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 4.0)

Dear Sir

I enjoy walking in the countryside near your home. Because I feel healthy and fit it gives me a peace of mind.

I have seen some litters on my walks while walking. It looks very bad on the walk way so you should complain about litters to the muncipal corporation.

Waiting for the strict action to be taken by the corporation

Yours faithfully

Mithun

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The letter makes a relevant start by saying that walking helps you feel “healthy and fit” and gives you “peace of mind,” and it mentions litter and asks for action from the municipal corporation. However, it does not fully address the task: the location is only described as “the countryside near your home,” the litter is not specified beyond the general word “litters,” and the proposed response is limited to complaining to the corporation. The response is also substantially below the required 150 words: it contains 58 words, with 8 words copied from the prompt excluded from the count. This leaves the purpose and supporting details very underdeveloped. Add concrete examples of litter and explain practical measures, such as bins, signs, or enforcement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic letter shape, with a greeting, short body paragraphs, and a closing, and the ideas broadly follow the task’s order: enjoyment of walking, litter, then action. This gives the reader a simple route through the message. However, the body is very brief, and links between ideas are limited. “Because” begins a sentence fragment after the opening statement, while “on my walks while walking” repeats the same idea rather than developing it. The final request for “strict action” is separated from the suggestion without explaining the connection. To improve progression, use complete, connected paragraphs and link each observation to a specific recommendation.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use a small set of relevant words, including “countryside,” “litter,” “walks,” and “corporation,” so the general subject is understandable. The vocabulary is nevertheless basic and repetitive, and some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “litters” is not the usual plural form for rubbish, “peace of mind” is preceded by an unnecessary article, and “walk way” is not the natural term for a path. “Muncipal” is also misspelled, and “strict action” is vague. These limitations make the description of the problem imprecise. Build a more specific range by naming items such as plastic bottles, wrappers, or cans, and use natural phrases such as “walking trail” and “take action.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response communicates its basic meaning through mostly simple sentence patterns, including “I have seen some litters on my walks” and “It looks very bad on the walk way.” There is an attempt to give a reason with “Because I feel healthy and fit,” but this is a dependent clause presented as a separate sentence, so it does not form a complete thought. The opening also shifts the perspective by saying “near your home,” although the letter is meant to describe the writer’s own walks. Sentence structures are repetitive, and punctuation around the greeting and body is not consistently controlled. Join the reason to the main clause—for example, “I enjoy walking because it helps me stay fit”—and practise combining simple statements into accurate complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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