Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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 illustrates the particular type of desert which is known as rain-shadow desert, is made.

Overall, the process includes seven various stages which begin with winds from the coast to dry air in inland areas and this process travel thousands of kilometres through mountains.

In the begin winds from the sea coast approach,following that the air pushes upwards through mountains, then winds convert to moist air and rises in the air cools in the high level. moreover after boing cools it forms the clouds near the windward side of the himalayas.

when it reached its peak rain start to fall towards the land.Furthermore in the form of dry air continues over the mountain it starts to back down by the side leeward side and eventually dry winds reach the inland areas where the rain -shadow desert from. This process starts in land and travel thousands of kilometres through the hills and mountains then reached the land.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the movement of air from the coast, the ascent over mountains, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in explaining the scientific mechanism (e.g., the cooling and condensation process). While the main features are identified, the explanation of the 'rain-shadow' effect itself is slightly underdeveloped, and the inclusion of 'Himalayas' is an unnecessary addition not present in the source diagram. To improve, focus on a more accurate, step-by-step logical progression of the physical process shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'In the begin' and 'moreover after boing cools'. The logical flow between sentences is sometimes disrupted by awkward phrasing and grammatical errors, making the progression feel disjointed. While there is an attempt to use transition words like 'Furthermore' and 'eventually', the overall structure lacks the sophistication required for a higher band. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will significantly enhance the readability of your reports.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate to describe the process, but it is limited and occasionally imprecise. There are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'boing' instead of 'being' and 'back down' instead of 'descend'. The range of vocabulary is restricted to basic terms, and there is a lack of technical or precise terminology related to geography or meteorology (e.g., 'windward', 'leeward', 'condensation', 'precipitation'). To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more specific, topic-related vocabulary and ensure that words are used in their correct collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a high frequency of grammatical errors, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('rain start to fall'), incorrect preposition usage, and awkward sentence construction. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, these are often marred by errors that occasionally impede clarity, such as 'the air pushes upwards through mountains, then winds convert to moist air and rises in the air cools'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing and commas. Focusing on basic sentence structure and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help improve the accuracy of your writing.

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