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 diagram reveals the formation of a particular dry land,called a rain -shadow desert.

Overall,as it is clearly seen from the diagram,Mountains and winds contributed largely on the creation of the desert,followed by the coast while the inland contributed little quota in the formation.The width was measured in kilometres.

Additionally,The Mountain is the foundation for the formation,when the wind blows it pushes upwards to create a cool atmospher with a notable clouds seen to indicate it about to rain,in between thoweverhe clouds form and the rain fall is the windward side close to the rock, rain fell which wet around the rock and it surroundings ,just after the dew was the dry air on the mountain between the dry winds is the leeward side adjacent to the big rock.Furthermore,Dry winds reaches the inland areas which form the Rain-Shadow desert.It width from the sea to the Desert,covers thousands of kilometres.

In comparion,The wind is a major tools in the creation of the desert as it appears more frequently from the beginning to the end of the formation.meanwhile the leeward side was the least.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, but it struggles to accurately interpret the visual information. While it identifies the main stages, the description of the process is confusing and lacks clarity. For instance, the explanation of the windward and leeward sides is muddled, and the attempt to quantify the process using terms like 'contributed little quota' is inappropriate for a scientific process description. The overview is also somewhat disjointed. To improve, focus on clearly sequencing the stages—moist air rising, condensation/precipitation on the windward side, and the resulting dry air descending on the leeward side—rather than focusing on vague measurements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. The use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or misused, such as 'In comparion' and 'Additionally,' which do not always connect ideas logically. The referencing is also unclear; for example, the phrase 'in between thoweverhe clouds form' is difficult to follow and disrupts the flow of information. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group related ideas, making the overall structure feel disjointed. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the readability of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'contributed little quota,' 'major tools,' and 'wet around the rock.' These choices do not accurately convey the scientific nature of the process. Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'atmospher' and 'comparion.' While the meaning is generally discernible, the lack of precise terminology for geographical processes prevents a higher score. You should focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to weather and geography, such as 'condensation,' 'precipitation,' 'moisture-laden,' and 'arid.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as run-on sentences and fragmented thoughts (e.g., 'The width was measured in kilometres. Additionally,The Mountain is the foundation...'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after commas and incorrect capitalization. While there is an attempt to use complex sentences, they are often poorly constructed and contain errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring that your punctuation is accurate before attempting more complex structures.

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