AI as a Cognitive Enhancement Tool: A Four-Tier Instructional Model for Tem-8 Writing

The writing task in Test for English Majors Grade Eight (TEM-8) places high demands on learners’ ability to synthesize information and express critical perspectives. Drawing on teaching practice in the English Writing and Translating Skills Training course for English majors at a Double First-Class agricultural university, this study develops a four-tier model of AI-enhanced writing instruction, with the four tiers corresponding to four ascending levels of cognitive engagement: evaluative regulation, critical analysis, comparative discernment, and selective revision. Using ChatGPT and DeepSeek as supporting tools, the model treats AI as a tool for cognitive enhancement rather than a substitute writer. By analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of AI-generated essays, comparing outputs from different platforms, and using AI critically to revise their own work, students make a cognitive shift from passively receiving feedback to actively directing their use of the technology. This paper explains the rationale, key components, and implementation of the model, offering a replicable framework for integrating AI into writing instruction for English majors in higher education.