Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

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 5.0)

The diagram show the formation of rain shadow deserts.

Overall, it is evident that the process start with the winds approach coast, and end with the dry winds reach inland areas. the all process is about the how the rain shadows on the deserts, how the clouds come and it all describe in the 7 stages .

At the first stage, Winds approach coast comes from sea, then winds pushed upwards. Next, moist air rises and cools in windward side. under the sea the line is marked with the coast.

At stage four, cloud from mountain. Following this, these clouds make the rain falls. At stage six, dry air continues over the mountain to the leeward side. Finally, dry winds reached successfully inland areas, which is look small beans. at the under of the inland the rain shadow desert. the distance between the coast and rain shadow desert is the Thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, but it fails to clearly identify and report the main features. The description is fragmented and lacks a logical flow, making it difficult to follow the stages of the process. While the student mentions the seven stages, the explanation of these stages is superficial and often confusing, such as the reference to 'small beans' or the unclear description of the windward and leeward sides. The summary is not well-developed, and the lack of clarity in describing the relationship between the mountain, the clouds, and the resulting desert prevents a full achievement of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the progression of ideas is disjointed. Cohesive devices are used in a very mechanical and often incorrect way, such as 'At the first stage', 'Next', and 'Following this', which do not effectively link the actual content. The referencing is often unclear, particularly when referring to the diagram's components. The overall arrangement of information is confusing, and the lack of logical sequencing makes it difficult for the reader to follow the process from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. The student relies on basic, repetitive language and struggles to use appropriate terminology for a process description (e.g., 'the all process', 'under the sea the line is marked'). There are significant issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'winds approach coast comes from sea' and 'which is look small beans'. These errors sometimes impede communication, as the reader has to guess the intended meaning. A wider range of vocabulary related to geography and processes is needed to improve the quality of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('The diagram show', 'process start'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or poorly constructed, such as 'at the under of the inland the rain shadow desert'. The use of complex structures is attempted but is almost always faulty, leading to confusion. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing capital letters at the start of sentences and incorrect usage throughout. The range of structures is very limited.

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