Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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 given diagram describe the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

To begin with, the process started from the sea, as the high-velocity of winds approach the coastal area and it was moved upwards along with water. The air is moist, it rises and cools on the windward side. Therefore, the clouds were formed and rain started fall.

Furthermore, on the leeward side, dry air continued collect over a mountain whereas the dry winds reached the inland areas. Likewise, the rain shadow desert beneath the inland.

Overall, the procedure will be ruined if any step will be missed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, significantly impacting the task achievement score. Because the response is only 96 words, the description of the process is underdeveloped and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the formation of a rain-shadow desert. While the main features are identified, the explanation is too brief to provide a comprehensive summary. To improve, you must expand on the stages of the process, such as describing the moisture levels, the specific impact of the mountain barrier, and the resulting climate differences on either side of the mountain, ensuring you meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with the overall structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While you use transition words like 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Overall', the connections between sentences are sometimes weak or confusing, such as the final sentence which does not logically follow the description of the process. The use of cohesive devices is limited, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, which hinders the flow of the information provided.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use some relevant terms like 'coastal area', 'windward', and 'leeward', which is positive. However, there is a lack of variety and precision in your word choices. For example, 'the process started from' and 'the clouds were formed' are functional but lack the academic tone required for a report. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive vocabulary related to meteorological processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that affect clarity. For instance, 'The given diagram describe' should be 'describes' (subject-verb agreement), and 'rain started fall' should be 'rain started to fall'. Additionally, the sentence 'the dry air continued collect' is missing a preposition ('to collect'). Your sentence structures are mostly simple, with limited attempts at complex sentences. The errors are frequent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader, and the control over tense consistency is inconsistent.

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

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