Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11

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 picture shows how rain-shadow desert is made. It has many steps from the sea to the land and mountains.First, the wind comes from the sea and goes to the coast. Second, the wind goes up the mountain. The air is moist and it becomes cool. Third, clouds are form in the sky. Then, rain is falls down on the mountain side. This side is windward side.After that, the air goes to the other side of mountain. This side is leeward side. The air is dry now because rain already fall. The dry wind continues to go down and goes over the mountain. Finally, the dry wind goes for thousands of kilometres inland. There is no rain here. So, it makes a rain-shadow desert in the inland area. It is very dry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the task by describing the formation of a rain-shadow desert, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 132 words. While the main features are identified, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. The process is described sequentially, but there is little attempt to synthesize the information or highlight the contrast between the windward and leeward sides effectively. To improve, you should expand on the physical processes involved and ensure the response meets the length requirement to avoid a penalty.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized chronologically using simple sequencing words like 'First', 'Second', 'Third', and 'Finally'. While this makes the text easy to follow, the reliance on these basic markers is mechanical and repetitive. There is a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices to link ideas more fluidly. Furthermore, the text is presented as a single paragraph; using separate paragraphs for the introduction, the process stages, and the conclusion would significantly improve the structure and readability of your report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is functional but limited. You use basic terms such as 'made', 'goes', and 'comes', which are repetitive. There is an attempt to use technical terms like 'moist', 'windward', and 'leeward', which is positive, but the overall range is narrow. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise verbs and descriptive adjectives to explain the process, such as 'precipitate', 'ascend', 'descend', and 'arid'. Avoid repeating the same sentence structures and vocabulary throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists primarily of simple sentences. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'clouds are form' (should be 'clouds form' or 'are formed') and 'rain is falls down' (should be 'rain falls'). The use of articles is also inconsistent, such as 'goes to the other side of mountain' (needs 'the'). While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of complex sentence structures and the presence of frequent errors in basic verb forms and articles limit the score. Focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and using a wider variety of sentence structures.

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.