Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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 shows how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, there are some steps in this process. It starts from the sea and ends with a dry area behind the mountain.

First, the wind comes from the sea. The wind goes to the mountain and pushes the air up. The air is moist and when it goes up, it becomes cooler. Then clouds are made and rain starts to fall.

After this, a lot of rain falls on the windard side of the mountain.This, this side has more water. Then the air goes over the mountain. When it goes to the other side, the air is dry.

Finally, the dry air goes down the mountain. There is not much rain on this side. The weather becomes dry and the lands a desert. This is called a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the movement of air, the cooling effect, precipitation, and the resulting rain-shadow effect. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description. The summary is quite basic and lacks the level of detail required for a high band score. To improve, you should expand on the specific features shown in the diagram, such as the elevation changes or the contrast between the windward and leeward sides, to ensure the response is comprehensive and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'First', 'After this', and 'Finally' to sequence the information. However, the flow is somewhat mechanical, and the connection between sentences could be smoother. The repetition of 'the air' and 'the mountain' makes the writing feel a bit simplistic. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and referencing techniques (e.g., using pronouns or synonyms) to connect your ideas more fluidly across the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use some relevant terms like 'moist', 'windward', and 'rain-shadow', which is positive. However, there is a lack of variety, and some phrasing is repetitive (e.g., 'the air goes', 'the wind goes'). To achieve a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary related to geographical processes, such as 'moisture-laden', 'ascend', 'precipitate', or 'arid'. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and adjectives will help you convey the information with more sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists mainly of simple sentences. While these are generally accurate, there is a lack of complex sentence structures, which are necessary to demonstrate a higher level of grammatical control. There are minor errors, such as 'the lands a desert' (should be 'the land becomes a desert') and 'windard' (spelling). To improve, focus on combining simple sentences using relative clauses or subordinating conjunctions (e.g., 'As the moist air ascends the mountain, it cools and condenses into clouds'). Increasing the variety of your sentence structures will significantly improve your score.

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

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