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

At the start, the winds from sea approach coast and the wind pushed upwards to the mountain after pushed the winds moist air rises and cools on the windward side and after this process the cloud form and start a rain fall and after the rain fall the dry air continues over mountain on the lower side of the hill and cross the leeward side and at the end the dry winds reach inland areas and the in land area is a rain-shadow desert and this wind start blowing at the coast of the sea and the distance between the sea and inland is thousands of kilometres. There is a huge mountain between two. The mountain is working like wall between sea ang desert one side of the mountain is sea and one side of the mountain is rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial wind movement to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, professional structure. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the process is slightly muddled, particularly in the way the sequence of events is presented. To improve, you should aim to group the information into logical stages (e.g., the windward side, the mountain peak, and the leeward side) rather than using a continuous, run-on narrative style. This would help in presenting a more analytical summary of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text suffers from a lack of paragraphing, which makes it difficult to follow the progression of the process. The writing relies heavily on repetitive conjunctions like 'and' and 'after', which creates a mechanical and monotonous flow. There is a lack of varied cohesive devices to link the stages of the process effectively. To reach a higher band, you should use clear paragraph breaks to separate the different stages of the formation and employ a wider range of linking words such as 'subsequently', 'consequently', or 'as a result' to improve the logical flow between sentences.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple terms like 'wind', 'mountain', and 'sea', which limits the precision of your description. There are also some awkward collocations and minor errors, such as 'rain fall' (rainfall) and 'in land area' (inland area). To improve, try to incorporate more specific terminology related to geography and processes, such as 'moisture-laden winds', 'precipitation', 'orographic lift', or 'arid conditions'. Expanding your range of vocabulary will allow you to describe the process with greater accuracy and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response consists almost entirely of simple sentences joined by 'and', which limits the grammatical range. There are frequent errors in article usage (e.g., 'the winds from sea', 'to the mountain'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on, making them difficult to parse. To improve, you should practice using complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses or passive voice, which are essential for describing scientific processes. Additionally, pay closer attention to basic grammar rules regarding articles and prepositions to reduce the frequency of errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding.

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