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 illustrates the natural phenomenon of forming rain-shadow desert.

The process consist of seven stages and wind plays a crucial role in the cycle. The key stages are lifting of wind, formation of cloud, rain fall and dry wind reach at inland area.

Wind travel from sea to reach at coast and then atmospheric pressure uplifts the air to the mountain range. During this process the air becomes dense and cool which form clouds. While the coastal area of sea was responsible for cloud formation. On the other side of mountain low perception of wind move downwards and reach inland.

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 ability to fully develop the task. While the student identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation, the explanation is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The description of the process is superficial, and the comparison between the coastal and inland areas is underdeveloped. To improve, the student needs to expand on the specific stages shown in the diagram, such as the cooling of air as it rises and the specific impact of the mountain barrier on moisture levels.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into two short paragraphs, but the overall progression is limited by the brevity of the text. There is a basic attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'During this process' and 'On the other side', but the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical. The paragraphing is not fully utilized to separate the distinct stages of the process effectively. To achieve a higher score, the student should focus on using a wider range of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, logical focus that guides the reader through the stages of the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'natural phenomenon' and 'crucial role' are appropriate, but there is a lack of more precise, subject-specific terminology that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'low perception of wind' (likely intended to be 'precipitation') and 'reach at inland area'. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more academic and descriptive terms related to geography and meteorology would significantly improve the quality of the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing, such as 'The process consist of seven stages' (subject-verb agreement) and 'Wind travel from sea' (missing article). Additionally, the phrase 'While the coastal area of sea was responsible for cloud formation' is a sentence fragment that lacks a main clause. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that all sentences are complete and grammatically sound.

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

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