Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11

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 4.5)

The rendered process diagram illustrates the how one kind of desert known as a rain shadow desert is created.

Overall, it begins from winds approach coast and ends with creating a rain shadow desert.

In the initial, it starts from winds approach coast,then winds are pushed upwards .thereafter the rise in moist air and cools . afterwards, there is form of clouds and at the fifth stage rain falls . subsequently,there is continues of dry air over mountain.Finally, in inland area the reach of dry winds and then creation of rain shadow desert.

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 score. Because the response is only 93 words, the information is presented in a very fragmented and underdeveloped manner. While the student attempts to outline the stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, the lack of detail and the failure to reach the required length mean that the task is only partially addressed. To improve, the student must expand on the description of each stage, providing more context and detail about the physical processes involved, such as the cooling of air and the specific geographical impact on the inland area.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks effective paragraphing and logical flow. While there is an attempt to use sequencing words like 'In the initial', 'thereafter', and 'subsequently', the overall structure is mechanical and repetitive. The sentences are short and lack the necessary cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly into a coherent report. The text reads more like a list of steps rather than a cohesive summary of a process. To improve, the student should group related stages into clear paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking phrases to create a more natural progression of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. Phrases such as 'winds approach coast' and 'creation of rain shadow desert' are used repeatedly without variation. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'there is continues of dry air', which is grammatically incorrect and lacks precision. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student struggles to use more sophisticated terminology to describe the meteorological process. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive vocabulary related to weather patterns and geographical features.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'the rise in moist air and cools', 'there is form of clouds', and 'there is continues of dry air'. These errors indicate a lack of control over basic sentence structure and verb forms. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, poorly constructed sentences. There is a lack of complex sentence structures, which are necessary for higher band scores. To improve, the student needs to focus on basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles and prepositions.

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

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