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)

In given diagram that is displayed about formation of rain shadow desserts, as per the diagram we can identify the general cause of rain-shadow desserts it influences the human health and make them most illness in health.

As per the diagram we can notice that winds get approached from sea level towards coast by pushing in upward direction of mountains when the wind pushed after certain distance their will be moist air ( cold air ) which can be massive cold in that surface after that at a certain peak level their will be clouds formation after the formation Rain fall starts. Although the dry air continuously flows over the mountain even after the formation of rain shadow due to some cold moist air the cloud formation takes place.

After all these their will be also good and proper flow of quality air for the 'OTHER SIDE OF MOUNTAINS' that is most important for human being.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to accurately describe the process shown in the diagram. Instead of explaining the meteorological formation of a rain-shadow desert, the text introduces irrelevant information about human health and illness, which is not present in the source material. The description of the process is confusing and lacks a clear, logical sequence of the stages (moist air rising, cooling, precipitation, and the resulting dry air on the leeward side). The main features are not clearly identified or compared, and the response misinterprets the purpose of the diagram entirely. To improve, focus strictly on the visual information provided and describe the physical process step-by-step.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks a clear structure. While there are paragraph breaks, the progression of ideas is disjointed and difficult to follow. The use of cohesive devices is mechanical and often misused, such as 'After all these' and 'Although the dry air'. The referencing is unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the sequence of events becomes muddled. The lack of a clear introduction or overview makes it difficult for the reader to understand the purpose of the report. Better use of linking words like 'subsequently', 'consequently', or 'on the other hand' would help guide the reader through the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often inaccurate. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'desserts' instead of 'deserts', 'approached from sea level' instead of 'moving from the sea', and 'massive cold' which is not a standard collocation. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe a scientific or geographical process effectively. The student relies on basic, repetitive language and struggles to use precise terminology related to the diagram, such as 'leeward side', 'precipitation', or 'moisture'. Expanding your vocabulary to include subject-specific terms is essential for higher scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences and fragments (e.g., 'In given diagram that is displayed...'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent (e.g., 'winds get approached', 'their will be'). Punctuation is also problematic, with unnecessary capitalization and missing commas. The range of structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple or poorly constructed complex sentences. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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