Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 18 · 2026-09-28
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
The diagram below shows the floor plan of a public library 20 years ago and how it looks now.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Central Library 20 years ago
Student answer (Band 4.0)
The given map illustrates the floor plan of a public liabrary 20 years ago and how it looks now.
20 years ago , there were C.D's videos, computer games, children books, some tables and chairs, adult fiction books as well as non fiction books, reading room for newspaper as well as magazines, an enquiry desk for tickets, book returns etc.as well as an enterance. Whereas today there are two sofas, storytelling events, children's fiction books, a lecture room, an information desk , self service machines, a cafe , computer room as well as all reference books.To conclude there is more development today then in the past.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 4.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.0 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0
The response is severely under-length, containing only 106 words against the required 150-word minimum, which heavily restricts its ability to fully satisfy the task. While the student attempts to list features from both maps, the information is presented as a dense, unstructured list rather than a properly selected and reported summary with meaningful comparisons. Key spatial changes and layout reorganisations are omitted or merely named in a list-like fashion, such as stating 'whereas today there are two sofas... a cafe', without explaining how rooms were converted or relocated. Because the word count falls significantly short and the reporting of main features lacks development and comparison, this performance aligns with Band 4.0.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0
The text lacks proper paragraphing and cohesive structure. It consists of only two extremely short paragraphs: a single-sentence introduction and a single massive block of text listing past and present features, followed by a brief concluding sentence. There is a basic attempt to contrast past and present using 'Whereas today', but the lack of clear logical progression and absence of paragraph division results in poor overall organization. Cohesive devices are minimal and mechanical. Consequently, this meets the criteria for Band 4.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 4.0
The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, relying heavily on exact terms lifted directly from the prompt's visual transcription (e.g., 'computer games', 'children books', 'adult fiction books', 'enquiry desk'). There is also a spelling error ('liabrary' instead of library) and punctuation issues with abbreviations ('C.D's'). The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate flexibility or precision, restricting the lexical score to Band 4.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0
Grammatically, the response consists of a couple of very long, cumbersome lists joined by conjunctions ('as well as') rather than a balanced mix of simple and complex sentences. There are punctuation errors, such as missing commas in lists and stray spaces before punctuation marks ('etc.as well as an enterance'). Although basic sentence structures are understandable, the lack of structural variety and the presence of basic mechanical errors place this at Band 4.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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