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 given diagram outlines the stages of formation of rain and the water is transferred by water clouds in the desert area.

Overall, it can be clearly mentioned from the chat, it is total 7 step procedure to establishment of the clouds. Additionally, it is time consuming process.

To begin with, initially, the winds are flow from the sea to desert. Afterwards, the air follow the upward direction, due to the mountains. Turning to the next step, moist air is cool down, because of the increasing the height. In addition to this, moist air also flow in the skywards direction. Lastly, the moist air are converted into the clouds.

Furthermore, the fifth step is, water contain clouds are occur rain in the top of the mountains. Moreover, these mountains are far away from the thousands of kilometers. After that, the dry winds are continues flow in the downward trend and it pass through leeward side. Finally , the dry air reach inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation but fails to accurately interpret the diagram. The student misidentifies the process as a '7 step procedure' and incorrectly claims that the rain occurs at the 'top of the mountains' and that the mountains are 'thousands of kilometers' away, which is not supported by the provided visual information. While the main features are identified, the lack of accuracy in reporting the data significantly hinders the task achievement. The summary is somewhat disjointed, and the overview provided is inaccurate regarding the nature of the process. To improve, focus on describing the physical movement of air masses and the resulting precipitation patterns as shown in the diagram rather than inventing external details.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of steps. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and sometimes inappropriate, such as 'Turning to the next step' or 'Furthermore, the fifth step is'. The logical progression is occasionally interrupted by inaccurate descriptions of the process. While the paragraphing is present, the internal flow between sentences is sometimes awkward, and the referencing is not always clear. The use of linking words like 'Additionally' and 'Moreover' is frequent but does not always serve to connect ideas logically, leading to a somewhat repetitive structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often repetitive. There are several instances of awkward word choice and incorrect collocations, such as 'water contain clouds are occur rain' and 'skywards direction'. The student struggles to use precise terminology related to geography or meteorology, relying on basic descriptors that do not accurately convey the scientific process shown in the diagram. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of variety and the frequent errors in word choice prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more specific terms like 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', and 'leeward' would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('moist air are converted', 'dry winds are continues flow'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures ('the air follow the upward direction'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some attempts at complex ones that are often faulty. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. These persistent errors, while not completely impeding communication, occur throughout the text and demonstrate a lack of control over basic grammatical rules.

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