Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 given process chart illustrates how one type of desert, known as a rain shadow desert, is formed with different type of formation from started with wind approach coast and the end up with drain from dry wind.

In the begining the process start with wind approach coast in the area of sea after that wind pushed upward because of heat as result it produced moisture cloud after that moisture cloud became form of cloud and at the end of the process rain is falling top of the mountain and this whole process has been completed at rain falls.

Apart from this,after the rain other process started with first step of air dry continues over mountainand its going down to leeward side where dry winds reach inland sector and the second process completed properly.

IN the contrast to it,this formation process of rain any evacuation rain water continuesly going again and again .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe the process but fails to clearly identify the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. The description is confusing, particularly regarding the transition from the windward side to the leeward side. The explanation of the 'rain-shadow' phenomenon itself is missing, as the text does not clearly explain why the leeward side becomes dry. The summary is disjointed and lacks a clear overview of the process, which is essential for a Band 6 or higher. The information provided is often inaccurate or poorly articulated, making it difficult for the reader to follow the scientific process described in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the begining' and 'Apart from this', they are often used incorrectly or do not effectively link the ideas. The referencing is unclear, and the transition between the windward and leeward sides is abrupt and confusing. The final paragraph is particularly incoherent, failing to provide a logical conclusion to the process. The overall structure does not support the flow of information effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive. There are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'wind approach coast' instead of 'winds approach the coast' and 'moisture cloud became form of cloud'. The student struggles to use precise terminology related to the process, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', or 'leeward'. The language is often simplistic and does not demonstrate the range required for a higher band score. Communication is occasionally impeded by these lexical inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect readability. There are issues with article usage ('the' is often omitted), verb tense consistency, and sentence structure. For example, 'the process start with wind approach coast' lacks proper subject-verb agreement and prepositional support. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and periods. While there is an attempt at complex sentences, they are often faulty and lack the necessary control to be considered accurate. The majority of sentences contain errors.

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

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