Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18

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 illustrates the process of forming one type of desert, called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages, beginning with winds approach coast and ending with reaching dry winds in inland areas. It is also noticable that winds transform into rain-shadow desert after completing thousands of kilometers of areas.

At the initial stage, winds approach coast pushes the winds upwars. Following this, it produces moist air. In the next step, rising and cooling this moist air and forming clouds. After that, clouds produce rain falls.

Subsequently, dry air continues over mountain after reaching from windward side to leeward side. This is followed by reaching dry winds in inland areas, which change the areas. Finally, inland areas are totally transformed into rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to summarise the seven stages of rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with the creation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the response fails to meet the minimum length requirement, containing only 125 words instead of the required 150. Furthermore, the overview is extremely basic, stating simply that the process consists of seven stages, and lacks a clear summary of the overarching spatial and climatic mechanism (such as the contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side). While the main features are touched upon in the body paragraphs, the lack of sufficient length and a well-developed overview severely restricts the depth of task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into four short paragraphs, which gives it a logical framework. There is an introduction, a brief overview, and sequential body paragraphs using transition markers such as 'At the initial stage', 'Following this', 'In the next step', and 'Subsequently'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical, as seen in phrases like 'reaching dry winds in inland areas, which change the areas.' Paragraphing is attempted, but the overall progression feels somewhat disjointed due to the heavy reliance on repetitive sentence structures and mechanical linking words rather than sophisticated cohesive devices.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is relatively basic and repetitive, such as 'process', 'stage', 'winds', 'areas', and 'formed'. There are noticeable lexical and word-choice errors, including 'noticable' (spelling), 'beginning with winds approach coast' (grammatical phrasing of a lexical item), and 'rain falls' used as a noun phrase in an awkward position ('clouds produce rain falls'). Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success ('transformed', 'initial stage'), but the overall lexical range is narrow and barely adequate for the task, causing some minor communication friction.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures are frequently faulty. Examples of grammatical errors include 'beginning with winds approach coast and ending with reaching dry winds', 'winds approach coast pushes the winds upwars', and 'rising and cooling this moist air and forming clouds.' Punctuation and word forms also show frequent lapses (e.g., 'upwars' instead of upwards). While the meaning can generally be deciphered, the high density of grammatical inaccuracies across a relatively short text prevents the response from achieving a higher band.

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

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