Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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)

In this diagram they show that how the wind approaches and the moist air change into to clouds and how the rain falls then change into dry air on Inland after fallen from mountains

It starts from the Sea when winds approach coast they push winds upwards where the moist air rises and cools the air and there clouds are formed on windwards side on the side of the mountain the rains falls.

On the other side of he mountain is Inland on top of mountains dry air comes down over mountains and then change into dry winds after reaching the Inland Areas. Under the Inland there is a Rain-shadow desert.

There is a thousand of kilometres distance between Sea and 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 score. While the student attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, the summary is underdeveloped and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the stages shown in the diagram. Key features, such as the specific role of the mountain acting as a barrier and the contrast between the windward and leeward sides, are mentioned but not clearly articulated. The response lacks a clear overview or summary of the main trend, which is essential for an Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks logical progression and effective paragraphing. The sentences are disjointed, and there is a lack of cohesive devices to link the stages of the process together. For example, the transition between the windward side and the leeward side is abrupt. The use of referencing is often unclear, such as 'they push winds upwards' without a clear antecedent for 'they'. The overall structure is fragmented, making it difficult for the reader to follow the sequence of events described in the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is basic and repetitive, relying heavily on simple terms like 'change into', 'approach', and 'side'. There is little attempt to use academic or process-specific terminology (e.g., 'precipitation', 'condensation', 'leeward', 'topography'). Some word choices are imprecise, such as 'Inland' used as a noun to describe a geographical location, and 'under the Inland' which is confusing. The limited range of vocabulary prevents the student from describing the process with the necessary precision required for an academic report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. There are issues with article usage ('the Sea', 'the Inland'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack necessary punctuation, such as 'In this diagram they show that how the wind approaches and the moist air change into to clouds'. The reliance on simple sentence structures is evident, and attempts at more complex explanations often result in errors, such as 'after fallen from mountains'. These errors occur throughout the text and frequently distract the reader.

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

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