Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 diagram illustrates the process by which a rain shadow desert is formed as most air passes on mountains.

overall. the formation of rain-shadow desert in 6 process beginning with winds these winds come from sea after hat these winds pushed upwards after hit mountain after that these winds transformed into cools and moist air that moist air make a cloud moreover start rain fall after that dry air continues over mountain .

first and formost task of rain shadow desert its start from sea passed the wind approach coast after that these winds hit the coast of mountains coast helps to pushed winds upward moreover when these winds near by windward side they contact in moist air rises and cools after these when these air cover the path of windward side these air make a new form clouds

The top most part of mountains rainfalls will be start the next step was when dry air continues over mountains from leeward side of mountain and the final step of rain-shadow desert its dry winds reach inland areas these are the total steps the formation of rain-shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, identifying key stages such as winds approaching the coast, being pushed upwards, cooling, and the formation of clouds and precipitation on the windward side, followed by dry air crossing the mountains to the leeward side and inland areas. However, the response suffers from significant weaknesses in the selection and reporting of main features. The description is often repetitive and lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the entire process from start to finish. Key geographic labels from the prompt, such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland', are used awkwardly or inaccurately in terms of grammatical integration. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially, warranting a band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The organisational structure is very weak. The response lacks appropriate paragraphing, consisting instead of a few dense and poorly demarcated blocks of text. Cohesive devices are either overused repetitively (e.g., excessive use of 'after that') or applied incorrectly, creating a mechanical and disjointed flow. For instance, transitional phrases like 'first and formost task of rain shadow desert its start from' fail to connect ideas logically. Referencing and pronoun use are also frequently unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of the process smoothly. Overall arrangement shows minimal logical progression, aligning with band 4.5 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is extremely basic, repetitive, and often inaccurate. The student relies heavily on simple words and phrases copied or poorly adapted from the prompt, such as 'winds approach coast', 'rainfalls will be start', and 'dry air continues over mountain'. There are frequent word choice and collocation errors (e.g., 'transformed into cools and moist air', 'make a new form clouds'). Attempts to use less common vocabulary fail due to poor control over word forms and parts of speech. The lexical range is limited and frequently strains comprehension, fitting the criteria for a band 4.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

Grammatical control is severely lacking throughout the response. The text is marked by a heavy presence of basic errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure (e.g., 'as most air passes on mountains', 'these winds come from sea after hat these winds pushed upwards'). There is an absence of accurate complex sentence structures; most sentences are fragmented or run-on clauses strung together with coordinating conjunctions or faulty punctuation. Punctuation is largely neglected, with missing periods and capitalization issues. These persistent and frequent errors cause significant difficulty for the reader, reflecting a band 4.0 level.

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

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