Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-06

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 d diagram illustrates the iterative process of formation of a rain shadow desert.

Overall, it depicts the sequence of stages involved in transforming the sea water into a rain shadow desert.Broadly speaking , the procedure can be divided into 7 distinct phases.

At the initial stage, wind from the sea approaches to the coastal areas. Subsequently, the wind is pushed upwards towards the windward side .After which the moist air rises and cools and later it forms cloud. Following this the rain falls in the range of thousands of kilometres.

In the latter stages, after the rain dry air continues to flow downwards around the leeward side of the mountain.Finally dry winds proceeds to the inland areas , marking the completion of the formation of a rain- shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

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 you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the formation of the rain-shadow desert. For instance, the transition from moist air to rain is described very simply, and the geographical implications of the 'leeward' side could be expanded upon. To improve, you must provide a more comprehensive summary of the diagram's features, ensuring that all key stages are elaborated upon to meet the length requirement and provide a complete overview of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You have used some cohesive devices such as 'Subsequently', 'After which', and 'In the latter stages' to signal the progression of the process. However, the paragraphing is somewhat mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. The overview is clear, but the overall structure feels a bit disjointed due to the brevity of the content. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the progression of ideas feels more natural and less like a list of steps.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

You have used some appropriate vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'iterative process', 'coastal areas', 'windward', and 'leeward'. However, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'transforming the sea water into a rain shadow desert', which is not scientifically accurate based on the diagram. The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, try to incorporate more precise terminology to describe the meteorological processes and avoid repetitive sentence structures.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The d diagram' (typo), 'approaches to the coastal areas' (unnecessary preposition), and 'dry winds proceeds' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to affect the overall clarity. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage. Additionally, try to vary your sentence structure further by using more complex clauses to describe the causal relationships between the different stages of the process.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.