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 illustration gives information about how rain-shadow desert is formed. Overall, after travelling thousands of kilometres, dry wind enters in desert from sea level.
It is quite evident from the diagram that wind approach coast from the sea level pushes to the mountain side, and pushes upward to the mountain. After reaching to the windward side, air goes moist and cool. After gaining some more hight, it converted into cloudes. At the top of the mountain rain fall occures.
Furthermore, because of rain fall dry air goes down to the leeward side of the mountain. When this wind reaches at the end of the mountains, it converted into dry wind. This dry wind enters in the inland area. The rain fall water again mixed with the sea water. This process repeats several times every day.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response covers several main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, such as moist air rising, clouds forming, rain falling, and dry air descending on the leeward side. However, the student includes factually incorrect or unsupported claims at the end, stating that 'The rain fall water again mixed with the sea water. This process repeats several times every day.' Furthermore, the word count requirement of at least 150 words was not met, as the text contains only 135 words. Consequently, the task has been only partially addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay has a basic structure, attempting an overview in the opening sentences and detailing the sequence of steps. However, the paragraphing is poor, with the entire body of the process crammed into a single block of text alongside the introduction. Cohesive devices are used mechanically and sometimes incorrectly, such as 'After reaching to the windward side, air goes moist and cool' and 'Furthermore, because of rain fall dry air goes down'. Progression is occasionally impeded by awkward transitions.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with frequent awkward word choices and collocation errors. Examples include 'gaining some more hight' instead of height, 'converted into cloudes' with a spelling error, and 'rain fall occures'. Phrases like 'air goes moist and cool' lack precision. While the student attempts subject-specific vocabulary like 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland area', the lexical range remains limited and minimally adequate for an academic task.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The text displays a limited range of grammatical structures. Simple sentences dominate, and attempts at complex structures frequently contain errors, such as 'wind approach coast from the sea level pushes to the mountain side'. There are frequent errors in prepositions, article usage ('enters in desert', 'pushes upward to the mountain'), and word forms ('rain fall' used as a noun phrase inconsistently). Punctuation is basic, but errors do not entirely prevent comprehension.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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