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 process diagram illustrates the formation of rain shadow desert .

Overall,it is noticable that it has comprised seven stages in the formation of rain shadow desert.The process begin with sea and coast after than complete make the desert.

ln initial, The sea and coast are use to make the wind coast approach.After the coast approach, winds pushed the waving in upward direction.The reaction in which moist air rises to formed the After that, the clouds water are Falling in the form of rain. Dry air are continue over mountain on the Both direction in which wind ward side and also leeward side. Then dry winds coming into inland areas.After that , the inland area inwhich complete the process then make the rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process diagram regarding the formation of rain-shadow deserts, outlining stages such as winds approaching the coast, moist air rising, clouds forming, rain falling, and dry winds reaching inland areas. However, the response falls significantly short of the required 150-word minimum, containing only 125 words. Furthermore, the overview lacks clarity and fails to fully capture the main features and overall sequence of the natural process shown in the prompt. The under-length nature of the essay combined with limited development and some misinterpretations of the visual data restricts the score to a Band 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The text exhibits some organizational structure, dividing the description into an introductory statement and a main body paragraph. However, logical progression is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, and abrupt transitions (e.g., 'In initial, The sea and coast are use...'). Paragraphing is poorly handled, with the body text compressed into a single, dense block. Cohesive devices are either missing, inadequate, or misused. Referencing is often unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow the exact sequence of the diagram smoothly. These cohesion and organization issues correspond closely to a Band 5.0 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is very basic, repetitive, and restricted in range, relying heavily on words directly copied from the prompt such as 'desert', 'winds', 'mountain', and 'coast'. There are numerous lexical and word-choice errors, such as 'noticable that it has comprised', 'winds pushed the waving in upward direction', and 'clouds water are Falling'. These noticeable errors and inadequate control over less common vocabulary cause occasional difficulty for the reader, placing the lexical performance solidly at a Band 4.5, rounded to 5.0 based on positive marking for minimal adequacy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The student uses a very limited range of sentence structures, consisting mostly of simple and attempted complex sentences that are consistently faulty. Grammatical errors are frequent throughout the response, including tense confusion, missing articles, incorrect prepositions, and faulty subject-verb agreements (e.g., 'The process begin', 'moist air rises to formed', 'Dry air are continue'). Punctuation and capitalization are also problematic, with spaces misplaced around commas and periods. Due to the high frequency of basic grammatical errors that impede smooth reading, a Band 4.5 is warranted, awarded as 4.5.

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.