Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20
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 back formation of rain-shadow deserts in the seven stages step-by-step.
Overall, the rain-shadow deserts are formed in seven steps. In the first step, winds are approaching coast from the sea and then in the last step dry winds reaching the inland areas after the whole procedure. Similarly, these all steps covers the thousands of kilometers journey in the seven stages.
Firstly, the winds from the sea appoaching the coast then winds pushed upwards in the next step. In the third step, the moist air rises and cools closely at windward side. Subsequently, in the fourth stage, the forming of clouds after this rain falls on the top of the mountains in the fifth step of this procedure. Following this, drying air continuesly over the mountain at the leeward side of the mountain.
At the end, the drying winds reaching inland areas and the rain-shadow deserts are formmed after the whole procedure included the seven steps.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student addresses the prompt by outlining the process of rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, meeting the minimum word count with 159 words. The response attempts an overview in the second paragraph, noting the seven stages and the horizontal scale of thousands of kilometres. However, the summary relies too heavily on a mechanical recounting of the steps rather than selecting and reporting the main features effectively. Some details are slightly imprecise or repetitive, such as stating 'the rain-shadow deserts are formmed after the whole procedure included the seven steps'. While all major stages from the coastal winds to inland deserts are mentioned, the development of ideas remains somewhat constrained by repetitive phrasing and listing.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The text is organized into three paragraphs, featuring a basic introduction, a brief overview/body paragraph, and a concluding remark. However, the logical progression is hindered by repetitive sequencing (e.g., repeatedly mentioning 'in the first step', 'in the next step', 'in the third step', 'fourth stage', 'fifth step'). Cohesive devices are used, but they tend to be mechanical and repetitive, such as 'similarly', 'firstly', 'subsequently', and 'following this'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of information lacks seamless flow and structural variety. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall organizational structure remains elementary.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a basic process, but it is limited and shows noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and form. Examples of awkward phrasing include 'back formation', 'winds are approaching coast', 'appoaching' (spelling error), 'forming of clouds', 'drying air continuesly', and 'formmed'. While the student attempts subject-specific terminology from the prompt such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'moist air', and 'rain-shadow deserts', the frequent word formation and collocation errors restrict the lexical score. A wider and more precise range of vocabulary is needed to achieve a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is weak throughout. There are frequent errors in verb forms, tenses, and prepositions, such as 'winds are approaching coast' (missing article), 'dry winds reaching' (missing auxiliary verb), 'moist air rises and cools closely at windward side' (awkward preposition and adverb use), and 'drying winds reaching inland areas and the rain-shadow deserts are formmed' (run-on structure with tense inconsistency). Punctuation is basic. These errors occasionally cause strain for the reader, placing the grammar performance firmly within the Band 5 descriptor.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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