Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

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 chart illustrates the process of formation of rain shadow deserts. It includes the seven steps.

After analysing, the process chart it can be observed that in the first stage the winds approach coast from seas upward the sea. In the next stage the winds pushed upwards to mountains. Moisture air rises and cools in the third step in the formation of shadow deserts whereas in the another step the clouds form nearby windward side.

Moving further, the rain falls in the windward side whereas leeward side continues dry air over a mountain in sixth step. In the last step the dry winds reach inland areas which formed the rain shadow desert.

Overall, there are seven steps in the formation of rain shadow deserts which start with winds approach coast or ends with dry winds reach inland areas.There are two sides of the mountains such as windward side and leeward side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process from the initial winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. However, the description is quite brief and relies heavily on a mechanical step-by-step listing of the diagram's labels rather than fully synthesising or reporting the spatial and causal relationships. The overview correctly identifies the number of steps and the two sides of the mountain, but lacks a broader summary of the overall climatic mechanism. It meets the basic requirements of Task 1 by selecting and reporting the main features, but more development and integration of the data are needed for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is structured into four short paragraphs, including an introduction, two body paragraphs detailing the steps, and an overview. Cohesive devices such as 'After analysing', 'Moving further', and 'Overall' are used to signal progression, though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or awkward ('whereas in the another step'). Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas is somewhat disjointed, with the summary placed at the end rather than functioning as a standard overview. Progression is discernible, but overall cohesion lacks smoothness.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally basic and repetitive, heavily borrowing terms directly from the prompt diagram such as 'process chart', 'winds approach coast', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. There are several noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'Moisture air rises' instead of 'Moist air rises' and 'in the another step' instead of 'in another step'. The range is minimally adequate to convey the basic steps of the diagram, but lacks flexibility or precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but many sentences suffer from grammatical inaccuracies or awkward phrasing. Examples include 'After analysing, the process chart it can be observed that...', which contains a punctuation error and redundant phrasing, and '...which start with winds approach coast or ends with dry winds reach inland areas', which has subject-verb agreement and tense consistency issues. Frequent minor errors in prepositions, articles, and verb forms cause some difficulty for the reader.

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

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