Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 explained the process of how type of desert, particularly a rain-shadow desert is formed. Overall, the formation of rain-shadow desert passes from several stages where moist air formed clouds and then moved toward leeward side and end in dry wind inland areas to form rain-shadow desert.The moist air travelled thousands of kilometres to formed a Rain-Shadow desert.

Initially, the all process started from sea to top of the mountain and end on the dry deser. Firstly, the moist air from sea pushed upward toward. However, the moistures of air rised and then moved towards windward side. Hence, clouds formed and become the reason of rain fall.

After that, rain passed from mountains moved towar leeward side, where air became dried and dry winds reached inland areas. Although rain had moistures but it decreased when it moved toward down side. At the end dry wind become source of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to summarise the main features of the rain-shadow desert diagram, identifying key stages such as moist air moving from the sea, rising over the mountain, producing rain on the windward side, and creating dry winds on the leeward side. However, the response contains significant inaccuracies and misinterpretations of the process, such as stating that 'rain passed from mountains moved towar leeward side' and 'at the end dry wind become source of rain-shadow desert'. The overview is also very weak, lacking a clear summary of the overall mechanism shown in the visual. While all parts of the task are touched upon, the lack of precision and under-developed reporting place this at a Band 5.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is divided into three paragraphs, providing a basic framework for the response. However, the logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward transitions and confusing references. For example, expressions like 'Initially, the all process started' and 'After that, rain passed from mountains' create confusion because rain itself does not pass over the mountains to become dry wind. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as 'Hence, clouds formed and become the reason of rain fall' and 'Although rain had moistures but it decreased'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the internal cohesion within the sentences and paragraphs is faulty and mechanical, aligning with a Band 5.0 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic and repetitive, with frequent lexical and collocational errors that strain the reader's understanding. Examples include 'moistures of air rised', 'toward down side', and 'dry deser'. The student attempts some less common terms like 'leeward side', 'windward side', and 'inland areas', which are relevant to the prompt, but these are offset by inaccurate word forms and choices such as 'moistures' as a plural noun and 'rised' instead of 'rose'. This performance fits the Band 5.0 descriptors, where the lexical range is limited and noticeable errors occur regularly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar is weak throughout. There are frequent errors in tense usage, subject-verb agreement, and word formation, such as 'The diagram explained' (should be present tense 'explains'), 'type of desert' (missing article 'a type'), 'air rised', and 'dry wind become source'. Punctuation is also problematic in places, and subordinate clauses often result in faulty structures, such as 'Although rain had moistures but it decreased'. Because errors are frequent and cause difficulty for the reader in grasping the exact scientific process, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.

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

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