Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-30

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 out-stages the formation of how rain-shadows form. The diagram said that there is a one type of dessert, also said to be rain-shadows.

Overall, first of all air have to cover the distance of kilometres to form rain-shadow dessert. The major reason of rain is the sea because of the sea the moist air rises and cooled down from the sea to form clouds which causes rain to fall on mountains.

While, from the sea the wind approach coasts to pushed wind upwards while, when air gradually increases towards the uphill the air goes moist and also cooled down for the formation of clouds. Furthermore, that's how the clouds are formed and causes rain on the top of mountain.

Moreover, the dry air from the mountains steadily decreases downwards while, when the dry wind reaches the inland areas the rain shadows are formed on the dessert. In addition that's how rain-shadows are formed while, on the sea side there is a windward side but on the other side where the mountains are there is a leeward wind.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, but it struggles to accurately convey the scientific stages shown in the diagram. While the main features are mentioned, the explanation is often confusing or factually imprecise, such as stating that 'the major reason of rain is the sea' or describing the wind as being 'pushed' in a way that lacks clarity. The summary lacks a clear overview of the process, and the distinction between the windward and leeward sides is somewhat muddled. To improve, focus on clearly sequencing the stages: moisture evaporation, orographic lift, precipitation on the windward side, and the resulting dry air on the leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the flow of ideas is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing and repetitive use of cohesive devices. Transitions like 'Moreover' and 'In addition' are used, but they do not always logically connect the preceding and following sentences. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly when referring to 'the sea' or 'the mountains' without establishing their specific roles in the process clearly. The progression of the explanation feels mechanical rather than natural, which hinders the overall readability of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and contains several inaccuracies. For example, the student uses 'out-stages' instead of 'illustrates' or 'depicts', and 'dessert' is used repeatedly instead of 'desert'. There is also a lack of precise terminology related to the process, such as 'orographic lift' or 'precipitation'. While the student attempts to use terms like 'windward' and 'leeward', their application is slightly imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more academic vocabulary and ensuring that technical terms are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'air have to cover', 'wind approach coasts'), incorrect verb tenses, and awkward sentence structures. Many sentences are clunky, such as 'the major reason of rain is the sea because of the sea the moist air rises'. While there is an attempt at complex sentences, they are often poorly constructed or contain punctuation errors. A greater focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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