Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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)

This diagram shows that how a rain-shadow desert the one type of desert formed from the sea.

Overall, this process have include a several steps. It starts with sea and it end with the transform of rain-shadow desert.

A thousand of kilometres tall mountain is on sea. So the 1000 of kilometres the winds pass through the sea. The wind pushed upwards to mountain from the sea. when the wind goes upward in mountain the moist air rises and the temperature of in mountain are extreme cold. So for very cold temperature the air transfers into clouds form.

At the top of mountain the rain falls from clouds and snow stored at top of mountain because of cool temperature. From the top of mountain the dry air continues goes down. And the dry winds reach inland areas and the rain-shadow desert formed from the sea.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While the student attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, the summary is underdeveloped and lacks precision. The description of the stages is somewhat confusing, particularly the claim that the desert is 'formed from the sea' and the inaccurate description of the mountain's height. Key features, such as the distinction between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain, are not clearly articulated. To improve, the student should focus on accurately reporting the main stages shown in the diagram and ensuring the response meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is weak. The transition between sentences is often abrupt, and the use of cohesive devices is limited and sometimes mechanical (e.g., 'So', 'And'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the progression of the process. For example, the connection between the moist air rising and the formation of the desert on the other side of the mountain is not clearly linked. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring a smoother transition between the stages of the process would significantly enhance the coherence of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite limited and repetitive, which restricts the ability to describe the process with precision. There are several instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'A thousand of kilometres tall mountain' and 'the transform of rain-shadow desert'. The student relies on basic vocabulary and struggles to use technical terms accurately in an academic context. To achieve a higher band score, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary to include more precise terms related to geography and weather processes, and focus on correct collocations.

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., 'this process have include'), article usage (e.g., 'on sea'), and sentence structure (e.g., 'This diagram shows that how a rain-shadow desert the one type of desert formed'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences with some errors in complex constructions. The frequent errors in basic grammar, such as pluralization and tense consistency, indicate a need for a more solid foundation in English grammar.

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

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