Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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 Describe information about how one type of desert known as a rain-shadow desert. There are seven steps of the process mentioned here starting from winds approach coast end from dry winds reach inland areas.

First winds are towards the mountain that is come from the sea. This winds slowly slowly pushed upward and climb mountain. after pushing this all winds the winds will make moist air and cools. after making cool large number of winds make a clouds from together.

When winds makes clouds this clouds starts rain falls onto the mountain. water of this rain fall on the mountain and slowly fall onto the desert. Then after dry winds continues over on the mountain and they reach at inland areas. This dry winds go into the deserts.

Overall, It is observe that the process of making clouds from winds that comes from the sea and know about the rainfall.

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 the key stages or the relationship between the mountain, moisture, and the resulting desert. The description is fragmented and lacks a logical summary of the main features. For example, phrases like 'slowly slowly pushed upward' are imprecise and do not accurately reflect the scientific process depicted in the diagram. The overview provided at the end is vague and does not effectively synthesize the information presented. To improve, you should focus on clearly identifying the sequence of events—moist air rising, cooling, condensation, precipitation, and the subsequent dry air descending—rather than listing isolated observations.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, which is a positive step, but the internal flow of ideas is weak. The use of cohesive devices is limited and often repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'after' and 'then' to start sentences. Referencing is sometimes unclear, for instance, 'this all winds' and 'this clouds' are grammatically awkward and disrupt the logical progression of the text. The connection between the sentences is mechanical rather than fluid, making it difficult for the reader to follow the causal relationship between the wind, the mountain, and the desert formation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'winds', 'mountain', and 'desert'. There is a lack of precise terminology required for a process description, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', 'moisture-laden', or 'arid'. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'making a clouds from together' or 'process of making clouds from winds'. To reach a higher band, you need to expand your range of vocabulary to include more specific, topic-related terms and improve your ability to use collocations correctly, such as 'prevailing winds' or 'moisture-laden air'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('winds makes clouds', 'this clouds starts'), article usage ('the mountain' vs 'a mountain'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are simple and lack the complexity required for higher bands. For example, 'This winds slowly slowly pushed upward' contains a redundant adverbial repetition and incorrect tense usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the response from reaching a higher score. Focusing on consistent verb tenses and correct pluralization would be a significant improvement.

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

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