Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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 how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the process consists of 7 stages, beginning with wind approch coast and ending with dry wind reach inland areas. In the diagram we see wind will passes thousands of kilometers from sea level and finally reaches to rain shadow desert.

Intially, wind approch coast starts at sea level and following this winds pushed upward from sea after this moist air rises and cools at the windward side at the top of the mountain as a result form clouds and rain will starts at next stage,occurs heavey rainfall.

In next stage, rain stops subsequently at the top level of mountain the dry air will starts and and flows continues over the mountain , at the point leeward side mountain completly dry following this dry wind passes over the mountain and reaches tp inland areas and forms a desert known as rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student addresses the main parts of the task by outlining the sequential stages involved in the formation of a rain-shadow desert. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, capturing the start and end points of the 7-stage process. However, some details are lifted directly or inaccurately paraphrased from the prompt (e.g., 'wind approch coast'), and the explanation of the middle stages on the windward and leeward sides is somewhat repetitive and vague ('occurs heavey rainfall', 'completly dry'). While the main features are touched upon, the lack of precise development and the inclusion of minor linguistic inaccuracies keep this performance at Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is structured into four paragraphs, including a brief introduction and an overview. Logical progression is attempted using sequence markers such as 'Intially', 'In next stage', and 'following this'. However, the flow is hindered by poor punctuation, run-on sentences, and mechanical transitions (e.g., 'after this moist air rises and cools at the windward side at the top of the mountain as a result form clouds and rain will starts at next stage,occurs heavey rainfall'). Paragraphing is initiated, but internal cohesion is faulty, leading to a choppy and occasionally confusing reading experience, corresponding to Band 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and heavily reliant on the words provided in the prompt (e.g., 'wind', 'coast', 'mountain', 'desert', 'rain-shadow'). There are numerous spelling and word-form errors throughout the text, such as 'approch' instead of approach, 'heavey' instead of heavy, and 'tp' instead of to. Attempts at less common vocabulary are minimal, and word choices are frequently imprecise or awkward, such as 'dry air will starts and and flows continues'. This performance aligns with Band 5.0 descriptors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar and punctuation is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, including missing auxiliary verbs, incorrect verb tenses, and run-on sentences lacking proper punctuation (e.g., 'In next stage, rain stops subsequently at the top level of mountain the dry air will starts and and flows continues over the mountain'). Punctuation is particularly problematic, with comma splices and missing periods creating ambiguity. Because errors are frequent and occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, a Band 5.0 is appropriate.

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

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