Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 outline the stages of rain shadow deserts. how one desert convert rain-shadow deserts.

overall, it begin with moist air moving inland from sea and end with formation of dry deserts. It consist of seven stages main stages are wind pushed upward and rainfalls. in the last dry wind reach inland area.

In the first step wind approach cost at the sea level after this winds pushed upward direction. In the third step air is moist rises and cools and converted in cloud form. This process is located at windward side.

in the top left of mountains the rain fall has been started and air became dry over the mountain it direction is leeward side. IN the last dry wind reach at inland area and rain shadow desert were build. This process take thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the seven stages of rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, beginning with moist air moving inland and concluding with the creation of the desert. An overview is provided, and several key features are mentioned, such as winds being pushed upward, rain falling on the windward side, and dry winds reaching inland areas. However, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement, containing only 137 words. Furthermore, some details are slightly imprecise or underdeveloped, and the overall explanation lacks the thoroughness expected for a higher band. Consequently, the task achievement is limited by the incomplete length and minor omissions in the process description.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response is organized into four paragraphs, attempting to follow a logical chronological progression from the sea to the inland area. Basic sequencing expressions are used, such as 'In the first step', 'after this', 'In the third step', and 'IN the last'. However, paragraphing is poorly structured and erratic, with single sentences standing alone as paragraphs. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or inaccurate, and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'it direction is leeward side'). Overall organization is visible, but the execution suffers from faulty cohesion and weak paragraphing control.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for a basic description of the diagram, featuring relevant terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'rain shadow desert'. However, there are numerous word choice and spelling errors (e.g., 'outline' instead of 'outlines', 'convert' instead of 'describes', 'cost' instead of 'coast', 'build' instead of 'formed'). The range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, and these persistent errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is very weak throughout the response. There are frequent missing verbs, incorrect verb forms, and punctuation errors (e.g., 'how one desert convert rain-shadow deserts', 'it begin with', 'air is moist rises', 'rain fall has been started'). Capitalization is also inconsistent, such as 'IN the last'. These frequent errors frequently impede communication and demonstrate poor control over basic sentence construction.

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

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