Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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 illustrates step by step process of how rain shodow desert is formed. The jouney of rain shadow forest starts from sea, where wind approaches the coast, once the wind start coming near the coast its begins to push in upward direction. Once the wind reach near the windward side air become moist and starts to cool, which then help in process of making clouds, once the clouds are formed and rain start falling, air becomes dry over the leewards mountain side, which then flows towards the inland area and that inland area becomes a rain shadow forest. It takes winds from sea to corss coast and reach top of the mountain in form of clouds, which when rains make air dry , which travels the leeward side and travel thousand of kilometer to make a rain shadow deserts.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. While the student identifies the main stages of the process—the movement of air from the sea, the cooling process on the windward side, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side—the description lacks the necessary detail and analytical depth expected for an Academic Task 1. The explanation is somewhat repetitive and fails to clearly distinguish between the 'windward' and 'leeward' sides in a structured manner. To improve, the student should expand on the specific features shown in the diagram and ensure the response meets the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive overview.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response is written as a single paragraph, which hinders the logical progression of the information. While there is a basic attempt to sequence the events chronologically, the lack of paragraphing makes the text feel like a continuous, run-on explanation rather than a structured report. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'once' and 'which then', but they are repetitive and mechanical. The flow of ideas is somewhat disjointed, and the transition between the formation of clouds and the creation of the desert could be managed more effectively with clearer signposting and better sentence structure.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with several spelling errors such as 'rain shodow' and 'jouney'. The student relies on basic terminology and struggles to use precise scientific or descriptive language appropriate for a process diagram. Phrases like 'making clouds' and 'help in process' are simplistic. To reach a higher band, the student needs to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to meteorological processes, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'orographic lift', or 'arid conditions'. The current range is just adequate to convey the basic meaning but lacks the precision required for a higher score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with articles ('from sea', 'reach top of the mountain'), subject-verb agreement ('wind start', 'air become'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, which makes the text difficult to read. There is a limited range of complex structures, and the attempts made are often faulty, such as the final sentence which is overly long and grammatically confused. Improving control over basic sentence construction and ensuring correct verb forms and article usage is essential for achieving a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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