Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 4.0)

The illustration of shows how one type of dessert converts in a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Here is a dessert which shows that rain- shadow dessert in left side sea and in right side is rain- shadow between is mountains and at the highest level rain falls the mountains are consists thousands of kilometres.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts is like the winds approach coast form see goes upward then winds pushed upwards next moinst air rises and cools at the peak point rain falls then dry air continues over mountains and in the last level dry winds reach in land areas and after that become the rain- shadow desert.

In the right side where is sea winds approaches form coast the convert in winds then pushed in moist air and nest makes clouds then rain falls when rain falls environment in contrast dry air

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the student attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, the explanation is fragmented and lacks a clear, logical summary of the main features. The description of the stages—moist air rising, cooling, and the resulting rain—is present but poorly articulated, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of events. Furthermore, the response is repetitive and lacks the analytical depth required for an Academic Task 1 report. The failure to reach the minimum length and the lack of a coherent overview result in a low score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The response lacks a clear structure. There is no logical progression of ideas, and the paragraphing is ineffective, with sentences often running together or lacking necessary transitions. Cohesive devices are largely absent or misused, such as the repetitive use of 'in the right side' and 'after that'. The text feels like a series of disconnected observations rather than a cohesive summary of a process. The lack of clear signposting makes it difficult to distinguish between the different stages of the formation process, leading to a disjointed reading experience.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary is very limited and contains frequent errors, such as the misspelling of 'desert' as 'dessert' throughout the text. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a scientific process accurately. Phrases like 'converts in a rain-shadow desert' and 'winds approach coast form see' demonstrate a lack of control over basic collocations and terminology. The student struggles to use precise language to describe geographical or meteorological phenomena, relying on simple, repetitive words that do not convey the intended meaning effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

Grammatical control is weak, with frequent errors that often impede communication. There are significant issues with sentence construction, such as 'The illustration of shows how...' and 'the mountains are consists thousands of kilometres'. Subject-verb agreement is frequently incorrect, and the use of prepositions and articles is inconsistent. The response relies almost entirely on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex explanations result in ungrammatical phrasing. Punctuation is also largely ignored, making the text difficult to parse.

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

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