Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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 natural process of rain shadow desert starts from the sea level when the wind approaches the coast of the sea the wind pushed upwards .By the process of which the moist air rises and cools .In the result the clouds formed .The process of cloud formation ends up to rainfall . When the rain falls on the mountains the dry air continues over mountains. Dry wind reaches the inland areas where the wind blows . There is the way to form the rain shadow deserts . This process is started from seas and ends up on the deserts by passing throw the atmosphere to mountain and mountains to deserts . Basically its a formation process thats not take to much long time like not the months or years but actually it occurs thousands of kilometres apart from each other .This is the whole process of rain shadow desert that is from sea to desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, from the sea to the inland area. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. While the key stages (moist air rising, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air moving inland) are identified, the explanation of the causal links is a bit repetitive and lacks the precision expected in an academic report. The summary is functional but does not fully highlight the comparative aspects of the diagram, such as the contrast between the wet windward side and the dry leeward side of the mountain.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organised in a linear fashion, following the sequence of the diagram. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'The process of...', 'This process is...'). The paragraphing is non-existent, as the entire response is written as a single block of text, which hinders the logical flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between sentences feels disjointed. To improve, you should group related information into distinct paragraphs and use a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying heavily on basic terms like 'process', 'wind', and 'air'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'In the result' (should be 'As a result') and 'passing throw' (should be 'passing through'). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the sophistication and precision needed for an academic task. You should aim to incorporate more specific terminology related to geography and meteorology to demonstrate a broader lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Issues include incorrect verb forms ('thats not take to much long time'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing ('There is the way to form'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences lacking proper structure. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the text from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct sentence structure will significantly improve your score.

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

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