Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 illustrates the seven-stages of desert and how the rain formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Firstly, the process of Winds approach coast and go upwards to winds pushed upwards and from sea to coast the third stage is moist air rises and make the weather cool and from the moist air and cool weather clouds come and go to sky and make a lot of clouds.

in the peak of the mountains rain falls start and windward side goes up and other side of the mountains dry air continues over mountain and leeward side, and the last stage of diagram is dry winds reach inland areas when the winds come down to the mountain starts dry and become dry airs. There are thousands of kilometers area covered.

Overall, when the winds go up that creates wind cooler and make clouds and starts rain and other side of the mountain's weather is totally changed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, but it fails to clearly identify or sequence the seven stages mentioned in the diagram. The description is fragmented and lacks a logical flow, making it difficult to follow the progression from the sea to the inland area. While the main features are touched upon, the lack of clarity and the repetitive, imprecise language mean that the information is not well-summarised. The response lacks a clear overview that synthesises the process effectively, and some details are presented in a confusing manner, such as the description of wind movement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay lacks a clear structure. While there is an attempt at paragraphing, the sentences within the paragraphs are poorly connected, often relying on repetitive phrasing like 'and' or 'from the'. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link ideas logically, and the progression of the process is disjointed. The referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to track the movement of the air masses described. The overall arrangement is mechanical and lacks the necessary flow for a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. Phrases like 'make the weather cool', 'make a lot of clouds', and 'dry airs' are simplistic and lack the precision required for an academic report on a scientific process. There are errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'seven-stages of desert' and 'dry winds reach inland areas when the winds come down to the mountain starts dry'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to describe the technical aspects of the diagram accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences and fragments (e.g., 'Firstly, the process of Winds approach coast and go upwards to winds pushed upwards...'). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent. The range of grammatical structures is very limited, consisting mostly of simple, poorly constructed sentences. Punctuation is also problematic, which further hinders the clarity of the writing.

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

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