Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 below shows how rain shadow desert is formed.

The mmIf we look at the figure, Windwardside of mountain comes first. the rain-shadow deserts passes through total of 7 stages then it is built. Firstly, wind approaches coast on the sea level. On the second step, winds are pushed upwards to the mountain. In thrid step, moist air rises and cools. Nextly, formation of clouds occur. Moving forward, due to formation of clouds rain falls.

Now Leeward side of mountain comes. In the sixth step, dry air continues over the mountain. Lastly, the dry winds reach inland area which form "Rain-shadow desert".

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While the student identifies the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail and analytical depth required for an Academic Task 1 response. The summary does not effectively compare the windward and leeward sides in a sophisticated manner, and the brevity prevents a full development of the process. To improve, the student must expand on the physical processes described in the diagram, such as the specific temperature changes or the moisture content of the air at different stages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into short, somewhat disjointed paragraphs. While there is a basic attempt at chronological sequencing using transition words like 'Firstly', 'Nextly', and 'Lastly', the flow is mechanical and lacks sophistication. The use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive. The paragraphing is not used effectively to group related ideas, as the transition between the windward and leeward sides is abrupt. To improve, the student should use a wider variety of linking phrases and ensure that ideas are connected more fluidly across sentences rather than relying on a simple list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on the terminology provided in the prompt. There are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'Windwardside of mountain comes first' and 'inland area which form'. The range of vocabulary is insufficient to demonstrate the flexibility required for higher bands. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to meteorology and geography, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', 'arid', or 'prevailing winds', and work on more natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors and awkward sentence constructions. Examples include 'The mmIf we look', 'rain-shadow deserts passes', and 'In thrid step'. The sentence structures are predominantly simple, with limited use of complex sentences. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and spacing. To improve, the student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct spelling (e.g., 'third'), and the use of more complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, which are essential for describing processes in Task 1.

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

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