Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 process chart depicts the cycle of cloud formation on mountain areas which is spaned in the area of thousands of kilometeres.

Overall, all the seven steps are essential to make clouds

Initially, winds are approched near the sea, then these winds moving forward to the coastline area which pushed the damp air towards upwards direction. Afterthat, when moist air rises high then it cool downs which finally formed clouds.

After cloud formation rain falls starts on the same side of the mountain where sea water is flowing, however another side of the mountain still faces dry air due to lack of rainfall. These dey winds reaches at inland are, where rainshadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main stages of the rain-shadow effect are identified, the explanation is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The response does not adequately compare the two sides of the mountain or elaborate on the transition from moist air to the formation of the desert. To improve, you must expand on the provided information by describing each stage of the process in greater detail and ensuring all key features of the diagram are covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response uses some basic cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterthat', and 'however' to link ideas. However, the paragraphing is ineffective; the text is split into very short, fragmented sections that do not facilitate a logical flow of information. The progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the lack of sufficient length makes the overall structure feel underdeveloped. To improve, focus on grouping related information into coherent paragraphs and using a wider variety of linking words to connect sentences more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic terms like 'moving', 'pushed', and 'formed'. There are also several errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'spaned' instead of 'spanned', 'approched' instead of 'approach', and 'dey' instead of 'dry'. These errors occasionally distract the reader. To achieve a higher band, you should aim to use more precise, academic vocabulary related to geographical processes, such as 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', 'condensation', and 'arid conditions'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that impede clarity. Examples include 'winds are approched' (passive voice error), 'pushed the damp air towards upwards direction' (redundant preposition), and 'rain falls starts' (subject-verb agreement error). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complex constructions. There is a lack of control over tense and word order. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence structures and proofreading for common errors like subject-verb agreement and incorrect verb forms.

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

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