Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24

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 that how one type of desert , known as a rain-shadow desert , is formed .

Overall, rain formation is a natural cycle involving several stages, beginning with the evaporation of water and ending with dry winds reach inland areas .

Initially , winds approach coast and it cames from sea . After that , winds pushed upwards gradually . During this stage moist air rises and cools . When they came the winward side they turn into clouds form . Following this once the air reaches a certain height , rain falls . Rain falls is the end of the coast part . At the next stage is dry air continues over mountain throughout the Leeward side . It causes a dry winds reach inland areas becaause of leeward side . As a result , Dry winds reach inland areas . This marks the final stage of the process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the wind movement, cloud formation, and the rain-shadow effect. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in describing the geographical features shown in the diagram. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the 'leeward' and 'windward' sides is slightly confused, and the final summary is redundant. To improve, ensure that each stage is described clearly without repeating the same information, and focus on accurately linking the physical process to the resulting climate conditions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response uses some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', and 'Following this', which helps the flow. However, the paragraphing is ineffective, as the entire body is contained in one block. Furthermore, the progression of ideas is hindered by repetitive phrasing, such as the repeated mention of 'dry winds reach inland areas'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'the coast part' or 'the mountain', which makes the logical sequence feel somewhat mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'cames from sea' (should be 'comes from the sea') and 'rain falls is the end of the coast part'. The student relies on basic terminology and struggles to use more precise, academic vocabulary appropriate for describing a scientific process. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more specific terminology related to meteorology and geography, such as 'precipitation', 'moisture-laden', 'elevation', and 'arid'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('winds pushed', 'rain falls is'), incorrect verb tenses ('When they came'), and awkward sentence structures ('The diagram illustrates that how'). The use of articles is also inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The student should focus on mastering simple sentence structures before attempting more complex ones to ensure accuracy.

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

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