Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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)

That's chart define the formation of rain shadow desert step by step

The part of the sea was attached in the mountain the wind was appearing top of the sea wind was face the mountain and move into upward At a few minutes the air was cool and convert into rises that's are the main factor to produce clouds then the rain falls at the top of the mountain

After the rain fall the dry air was coming down to the mountain continuously pass the leeward side the dry air reached in the Inland areas the rain shadow was produced in the inside of the mountain the mountain was thousand of kilometres wide That's all the process was very significant for this purpose

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the process diagram showing the formation of a rain-shadow desert, noting key stages such as winds approaching the coast, moist air rising to form clouds and rain, and dry air descending on the leeward side. However, the student fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at only 123 words. Consequently, the task cannot be fully developed. Furthermore, there are inaccuracies in the description, such as stating that 'the rain shadow was produced in the inside of the mountain', which misrepresents the spatial arrangement shown in the visual data. Because of the under-length penalty and incomplete development, the score is restricted to Band 4.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0

The text is divided into three short paragraphs, but overall organization is weak and lacks a clear overall progression. The response lacks appropriate cohesive devices, relying heavily on run-on sentences and juxtaposition without clear transition words or logical connectors (e.g., 'At a few minutes the air was cool and convert into rises that's are the main factor to produce clouds then...'). Paragraphing is also misused, as the introduction is combined with the first sentence and the body lacks internal structuring. Referencing and progression are frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence smoothly. This performance aligns with the Band 4 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 4.5

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and heavily reliant on direct copying or awkward paraphrasing of the prompt elements (e.g., 'That's chart define', 'rain shadow desert', 'wind was appearing top of the sea'). There are frequent word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'convert into rises' and 'thousand of kilometres wide'. The range of vocabulary is limited and inadequate for a precise academic summary. While some technical terms from the diagram are included, errors in word formation and usage occasionally strain the reader's understanding, placing this firmly at Band 4.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.0

The response shows a very limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures are faulty and lack punctuation, resulting in run-on sentences (e.g., 'After the rain fall the dry air was coming down to the mountain continuously pass the leeward side the dry air reached in the Inland areas'). Grammatical errors are frequent, including missing articles, incorrect verb tenses, and subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'the wind was face the mountain', 'rain fall', 'thousands of kilometres wide'). These errors cause noticeable difficulty and distortion of meaning for the reader, fitting the Band 4.0 criteria.

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

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