Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-22

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 given diagram illustrates the process by which a rain-shadow desert develops.

Overall, it is clear that seven essential steps are involved in this process. To begin with, winds approach the coast to rain falls and then dry winds finally reach inland areas.

Initially, the wind approaches the coast from the seaside and hits mountains; afterwards, it goes upward to continue the process. when reaches to windward side, this wind is converted to moist air and cools. By reaching just near the mountains top, this moist air forms clouds and finally rain starts.

In the sixth step, these rainy clouds stops raining then dry air continues over mountain and reached to leeward side, followed by path, reaches to inland area. this area called rain s

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the seven-step process of rain-shadow desert formation, identifying key stages such as winds approaching the coast, rising and cooling, cloud formation, precipitation, and dry air moving over the mountains to the leeward side. However, the response is cut off mid-sentence at 125 words, failing to meet the minimum 150-word requirement. This under-length severely limits the development of the response, leading to an incomplete overview and insufficient coverage of the final inland stage. Consequently, the score is restricted in accordance with the task achievement criteria.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a basic overall progression, starting with an introductory statement and attempting to sequence the stages chronologically using markers such as 'Initially', 'afterwards', and 'In the sixth step'. However, paragraphing is underdeveloped, and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., 'when reaches to windward side'). Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or misused, and the lack of a completed concluding section detracts from the overall organization. Despite these flaws, the reader can follow the general trajectory of the process up to the point where the text abruptly ends.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for describing a physical process, using terms such as 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'dry winds'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'when reaches to windward side' and 'rain s', alongside spelling and grammatical slip-ups like 'rainy clouds stops raining'. Less common lexical items are attempted but lack precision and natural control, keeping the lexical score at a modest level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There is a mix of simple and attempting complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. Errors occur frequently throughout the text, including missing subjects ('when reaches to windward side'), incorrect prepositions, and verb-tense inconsistencies (e.g., 'these rainy clouds stops raining then dry air continues... and reached'). Punctuation and sentence boundaries break down towards the end, and the text ends abruptly. While meaning is generally recoverable in the first half, the accumulation of grammatical errors impacts readability.

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.