Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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)

This is a diagram shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert. Formation of rain-shadow desert include in seven steps, from sea and mountains to desert at final, which contain two level.

The first level is before the winds turn to clouds, it start with approaching the coast, and then push upwards, with the rises and cools in the windward side. When atmosphere changes, wind from sea side will become moist air, wind will drive the atoms in stream cluster together by chemical boundary, and transform into clouds form.

The second level is happening when clouds reach peak of the mountains, boundaries brake with climate changing, rain will falling down, at the same times, dry air continue overing in leeward side, and it will reach inland areas at the end.

This not just a simply transformation between areas, is a complicated climate change, which often take thousands of kilometers, shows varieties natural changes in our daily life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, identifying key stages such as approaching moisture, rising air, cloud formation, precipitation, and dry air over the leeward side. However, the explanation is incomplete and heavily distorted by severe linguistic limitations. The student attempts to structure the process into 'two levels', but key geographical mechanisms are described inaccurately or unclearly, such as 'wind will drive the atoms in stream cluster together by chemical boundary'. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of accurate reporting and the inclusion of confusing or irrelevant concluding remarks prevent the response from fully addressing the prompt. The overall progression is vague, limiting the score to a Band 4.0 according to the criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The text is organized into paragraphs corresponding to an introduction, two developmental stages, and a conclusion. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by incoherent sentences and poor cohesive referencing, such as 'This is a diagram shows...' and 'This not just a simply transformation...'. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, and the links between sentences often fail to establish clear relationships. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal cohesion is weak, leading to an overall arrangement that is difficult to follow. These features align closely with Band 4 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, with frequent word-choice errors that strain the reader. Examples include 'wind will drive the atoms in stream cluster together', 'boundaries brake with climate changing', and 'dry air continue overing in leeward side'. The student attempts less common or scientific terminology, such as 'atoms' and 'chemical boundary', but uses them inappropriately and incorrectly. Spelling and lexical inaccuracies are pervasive throughout the text. Consequently, the lexical range is inadequate for effective communication, fitting the Band 4.0 profile.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most sentences contain severe errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and clause structure. For instance, 'This is a diagram shows how one type of desert...' mixes a relative clause and a main verb incorrectly, and 'with the rises and cools in the windward side' misuses parts of speech. Punctuation and basic sentence construction are frequently faulty, leading to frequent misunderstandings for the reader. There are very few error-free sentences in the entire passage, making Band 4.0 the most accurate assessment.

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

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