Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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 provides information about the formation of rain shadow deserts in different areas from sea level to mountain level. The distance between sea and rain shadow desert is around thousands of kelometers.

Overall the winds approach coast into clouds form however it starts rain falls. After that dry air continues over mountain it reached to dry winds inland areas ,this is the process called rain shadow desert.

From the sea level wind approach coast converted into clouds form after different process formed. It converted into rain falls it can be seen in the figure.After rain falled the air became dry over the mountain and it started to go down at the last process ,it reached inland areas.

On the other hand the process of cloud formation to rain and dry winds which reached in inland areas is called rain shadow desert. To formed this process from sea level to mountain then inland it takes around thousands of kelometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses the task only partially by attempting to describe the formation of rain-shadow deserts from the provided diagram. However, the explanation is limited and under-developed, capturing only a few fragmented steps such as winds approaching the coast, clouds forming, rain falling, and dry air moving over the mountain. The overview is weak and confused, failing to clearly outline the main stages of the geographical process as a whole. Furthermore, the writing contains imprecise details and mechanical reporting of the sequence rather than a well-synthesized summary. To move to a higher level, the response needs to provide a clear, comprehensive overview of the entire process from the sea across the mountains to inland areas, and develop all key stages fully and accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The information and ideas are not arranged coherently. Although paragraphing is attempted, the overall progression lacks logical flow, making the description difficult to follow. Cohesive devices are inadequate or misused, resulting in disjointed sentences and repetitive structures (for example, the repeated use of phrases like 'converted into clouds form' and 'it reached'). Referencing is frequently unclear, leaving the reader confused about how the different stages of the diagram connect. To improve, the text needs a clear organizational structure with logical signposting words that guide the reader smoothly from the sea, across the windward and leeward sides of the mountains, and finally to the inland desert.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. There are noticeable errors in word choice and word formation that cause difficulty for the reader, such as writing 'kelometers' instead of 'kilometres', 'falled' instead of 'fallen', and awkward phrases like 'wind approach coast converted into clouds form'. The range of vocabulary is restricted, relying heavily on repeating basic terms from the prompt rather than demonstrating a flexible or precise lexical resource. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of precise scientific and geographical vocabulary related to processes and weather, and ensure correct word forms and spelling throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response displays a very limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar, punctuation, and article usage that strain the reader's understanding, such as comma splices ('...dry winds inland areas ,this is the process...'), missing prepositions, and incorrect verb tense forms ('wind approach coast converted into clouds form'). Simple structures dominate, and grammatical control over clauses describing a sequence is weak. To improve, you should focus on constructing accurate simple and complex sentences, improving verb tense consistency when describing natural processes, and refining punctuation and article usage.

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

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