Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 given diagram illustrates the process of desert, called rain-shadow how it is obtained? It acquires several procedures. Units are measured in thousands of kilometres.

Overall, this method begin from the sea firstly, windows upwards the water and make a proper clouds form. After that, the rain begins from the clouds through the leeward side and reach the rain-shadow desert.

First of all, the winds approach from sea and pushed upwards. Moreover, these winds are combine with moist air and obtain a clouds form later, clouds start rain downward the mountains from leeward side and finally these dry winds reach the rain shadow desert. This whole method accomplish in certain steps, begin from the sea winds and passing from the various kinds of steps reached in the form of rain shadow desert. Distance of many kilometers could be taken by this process. Units are measure in kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the formation of a rain-shadow desert, but it suffers from a significant under-length issue, containing only 147 words against the required 150-word minimum. Furthermore, the content contains awkward phrasing and misinterpretations of the process, such as 'windows upwards the water' instead of winds pushing air upwards. While it identifies some main features like the sea, moist air, clouds, rain, and the desert, the explanation is disjointed and lacks a fully developed overview. Consequently, it only partially satisfies the requirements of Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text is organized into brief paragraphs, attempting an overall structure with an introduction, an overview, and body details. However, logical progression is weak and ideas feel repetitive. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or incorrectly (e.g., 'First of all', 'Moreover', 'After that'), and referencing is occasionally confusing, such as 'windows upwards the water and make a proper clouds form'. Paragraphing is present, but the abrupt shifts and lack of smooth transitions hinder readability, placing the response firmly in the band 5 range.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and restricted. The student makes frequent word-choice and collocation errors, such as using 'windows' instead of 'winds', 'obtained' instead of formed, and 'distance of many kilometers could be taken'. Less common lexical items are attempted but used incorrectly (e.g., 'procedures', 'accomplish'). While some domain-specific terms like 'sea', 'clouds', 'rain', and 'desert' appear, the limited range and frequent errors that cause reader strain restrict the score to band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 for minimally adequate naming of key features.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The response displays a very limited range of grammatical structures. Most complex sentence attempts are severely flawed, such as 'how it is obtained?' or 'this method begin from the sea firstly, windows upwards the water and make a proper clouds form.' Frequent grammatical errors occur throughout, including subject-verb agreement issues ('this method begin', 'units are measure'), incorrect word forms ('winds pushed upwards' mixed with active/passive confusion), and punctuation mistakes. These frequent errors cause difficulty for the reader and reflect a weak grasp of sentence construction.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.