Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 given process chart provide information about the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the given chart explian the how to rain shadow desert is formed. That acutally divided into 7 different parts like wind approch coast, winds pushed upwards, moist air rises and cools , cloud form , rain falls , dry air continues , and dry winds reach inland areas.

In this entire formation the root node is a sea. The see create wind approach coast. then using the moutains that wind pushed upwards. After that winds are transform into the moist air and cools. That mosit air goes on to the windward side and convert into the cloud form.

Then clouds form are goes up side and that make it rain falls. Later on that water is goes into the leeeward side. That process is called dry air continues over mountain. After that dry winds reach inland areas. This is normal formation of rain shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to summarize the seven stages of the rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, beginning from the sea and moving inland to the desert. However, the response contains several inaccuracies and awkward phrasings in describing the mechanical process (for instance, stating that 'the root node is a sea' and that 'the see create wind approach coast'). Furthermore, the explanation becomes somewhat confused and repetitive in the middle paragraphs, lacking a clear, cohesive overview of the entire natural cycle. While all main stages are mentioned in a basic sequence, the lack of precise scientific terminology and clear comparative relationships between the windward and leeward sides limits the depth of the task response, placing it firmly in the lower-middle band range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The text is organized into four brief paragraphs, attempting an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological flow of the diagram. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and unclear referencing. Phrases like 'In this entire formation the root node is a sea' and 'Then clouds form are goes up side and that make it rain falls' demonstrate inadequate and mechanical use of cohesive devices. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs is poor, making the overall arrangement somewhat disjointed and difficult to follow smoothly.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, frequently relying on simple verbs and nouns taken directly from the prompt labels (such as 'winds', 'coast', 'clouds', and 'rain'). There are numerous spelling errors ('explian', 'acutally', 'approch', 'moutains', 'mosit', 'leeeward') and inappropriate word choices (such as 'root node' and 'see create'). The student attempts some less common terms related to the process, but the noticeable errors in spelling, word formation, and collocation consistently impede communication and restrict the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The grammatical structures attempted are largely simple sentences or faulty attempts at complex ones. The text is marred by frequent, basic errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions, such as 'The given process chart provide information', 'how to rain shadow desert is formed', and 'that water is goes into'. Control over sentence architecture is weak, and punctuation is occasionally misused. Because errors occur in almost every sentence and frequently cause difficulty or confusion for the reader, the response meets the criteria for Band 4.5 in grammatical accuracy.

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

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