Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

The diagram illustrates the process of rain-shadow deserts and also explain the names of process stages. Overall, 8 different stages can completed this process and the first steps is winds approach coast, while last step is called dry winds reach inland areas.

The proces started of winds approach coast, sea air come to the mounatin area, then started to tavel up side of mountain. After that, started winds pushed upwards a mountain, After completed this stages, started the third stages of this proces it called moist air rises and cools, the stages started on windward side of a mountain, now this time, air hot air converted into cools airs. The four step is called clouds form, in this time, cools air started to change their shape into the clouds form, this step just started up to windward side of a mountain.

The third last steps is called rain falls, clouds started rain falls on top of a mountain. After that, water started their travel into down of mountain, this proces called Dry air continues. The last stages is that Dry winds reach inland area, rain fall water when started the travel to opposite side of mountain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The student attempts to describe the seven stages of the rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, such as 'winds approach coast' and 'moist air rises and cools'. However, the response contains significant factual inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the visual data. For instance, the text claims that 'clouds started rain falls on top of a mountain' and that 'water started their travel into down of mountain, this proces called Dry air continues'. Furthermore, the introduction states there are '8 different stages', whereas the diagram clearly outlines seven numbered steps. The overview is weak and confused, failing to clearly capture the overall geographical progression from the sea, across the mountains, to the inland desert. Because of these comprehension errors and under-developed reporting of main features, the response falls into Band 4.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The organisation of the text is heavily compromised by poor paragraphing and a lack of clear logical progression. The response is divided into just two blocks of text, with the second paragraph attempting to rush through all remaining steps in a continuous, run-on manner. Cohesive devices are repetitive and mechanically applied, relying heavily on phrases like 'After that, started...' and 'The four step is called...'. Referencing is frequently unclear, such as 'rain fall water when started the travel to opposite side of mountain', which impedes the reader's ability to follow the sequence of events smoothly. Overall, the structural flaws place this response firmly at Band 4.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, heavily mirroring the prompt labels rather than demonstrating independent lexical range. Words are frequently misused, such as 'process' being spelled as 'proces', 'travel' used instead of 'travels' or 'move', and awkward phrasings like 'air hot air converted into cools airs'. There are numerous word-formation and spelling errors throughout the text ('mounatin', 'tavel', 'up side', 'coops airs'). While the student manages to lift key terminology from the diagram, the frequent lexical inaccuracies and limited vocabulary breadth restrict the score to Band 4.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

Grammatical control is weak throughout the response, featuring a high frequency of serious errors. The student struggles with basic sentence construction, resulting in frequent fragments and ungrammatical clauses, such as 'Overall, 8 different stages can completed this process and the first steps is winds approach coast' and 'After that, started winds pushed upwards a mountain'. Subject-verb agreement is frequently violated ('sea air come', 'clouds started rain falls'), and tense usage is erratic. Complex structures are attempted but are almost invariably faulty. Due to the constant presence of errors that frequently distort meaning and impede communication, a Band 4.0 is appropriate.

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