Band 4 (Limited user) is the first intermediate level, vocabulary for expressing opinions, describing experiences, and handling everyday conversations.
Lower intermediate. Band 4 corresponds to the first half of CEFR B1.
Band 4 is a limited user whose competence is confined to familiar situations, with frequent problems in understanding and expression and an inability to handle complex language. The vocabulary now covers everyday topics with some flexibility: work, travel, health, simple opinions, and basic comparisons. Learners can sustain a short conversation and produce connected sentences, but abstract or unfamiliar subjects expose clear gaps. This corresponds to the first half of CEFR B1, lower intermediate.
You're at band 4 if you can hold a simple conversation, follow the gist of clear speech, and write a few coherent sentences, but find IELTS topics like environment or technology hard to discuss. Many candidates score here on a first attempt before targeted preparation. Band 4 is still below university and migration requirements, so it is a waypoint, not a destination. The aim is to develop enough range to express and support an opinion.
Start grouping vocabulary by IELTS theme, education, work, health, so you can actually talk about the topics the test favours. Drill collocations rather than lone words in your spaced repetition, learning make a decision and heavy traffic as set phrases. Listen to clear standard English daily, podcasts for learners or slowed news, and shadow what you hear. Begin writing short opinion paragraphs and notice where you lack the word for the idea you want.