Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 shows how one type of desert, known as a rain shadow is formed. The formation of rain shadow deserts contain in seven steps. There are winds approach coast, winds pushed upwards, moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, dry air continues over mountain, dry winds reach inland areas.

The formation of rain shadow deserts first step Winds approach coast to the sea and pushed upwards. Winds pushed upwards the coast and the air become moist and cools and rises to the windward side and than convert into the clouds form.

It convert into the clouds form and it rain on the top of the mountains and the mountain wide thousand of kilometers than the six step the dry air continues over mountain to the leeward side and the dry winds reach inland areas and this process become a Rain shadow deserts. After these seven process the rain shadow desert formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the seven steps involved in the formation of rain-shadow deserts. While the main stages—such as winds approaching the coast, moist air rising, clouds forming, rain falling, and dry air moving over the mountains—are mentioned, the response struggles with clear selection and reporting of information. Instead of providing a coherent overview or well-organised summary, the student largely lists and repeats the prompt labels mechanically (e.g., repeating 'The formation of rain shadow deserts' and 'clouds form' multiple times). Furthermore, the spatial relationships between the sea, windward side, mountains, leeward side, and inland desert are not clearly contrasted or synthesized. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, earning a Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The organisation of the text is weak and lacks a clear logical progression. The response is broken into very short, repetitive paragraphs that do not guide the reader smoothly through the diagram's process. Cohesive devices are either missing or misused, with repetitive phrasings such as 'The formation of rain shadow deserts first step' and 'It convert into the clouds form and it rain'. Paragraphing is inadequate, as the text fails to group the stages of the cycle logically into distinct phases (such as the ascent on the windward side versus the descent on the leeward side). Overall, the flow is disjointed and mechanical, fitting the descriptors for Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The lexical range is very narrow and repetitive. The student relies heavily on direct copying from the prompt vocabulary ('winds approach coast', 'clouds form', 'rain falls', 'dry winds reach inland areas'). There are noticeable word-choice errors and awkward collocations, such as 'contain in seven steps' instead of 'consists of seven steps', 'than convert into the clouds form' instead of 'condense to form clouds', and 'this process become a Rain shadow deserts'. Spelling errors like 'than' instead of 'then' also occur. Because the vocabulary is basic and restricted largely to lifting from the diagram, it meets the requirements for Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The grammatical range is extremely limited, consisting mostly of simple, repetitive clause structures joined by basic conjunctions. There are frequent grammatical errors that impede comprehension, such as missing prepositions and incorrect verb forms ('The formation of rain shadow deserts contain in seven steps', 'Winds pushed upwards the coast', and 'It convert into the clouds form and it rain'). Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are poorly handled throughout the response (e.g., 'this process become'). Due to the lack of error-free complex structures and the high frequency of basic grammatical mistakes, a Band 4.5 or 5.0 is appropriate; 5.0 reflects the successful communication of some basic steps despite severe inaccuracies.

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