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 below represents formation of specific type of dessert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the formation consist of 7 steps in which air in the sky transforms into rain and then in dry air reaches on the surface.

Firstly, sea at coastline approached by winds at coast which puts upward pressure on winds and leads them to go in the sky. Furthermore, that winds mix with the air in the sky called moist air and cools down. Now, chilly moist air forms clouds and then these clouds start raining, water of rain drops on mountains and that air dries out. Secondly, that dry airs continue over mountains as putting downward pressure on the air.

Finally, dry winds reach to inland areas like transferring to surface and transforms into rain shadow dessert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the seven steps involved in the formation of a rain-shadow desert, noting key locations such as the sea, coast, mountains, and inland areas. However, there are notable omissions and misunderstandings of the process, such as confusing moist air cooling with 'chilly moist air' and describing the final state inaccurately. Furthermore, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 131 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. This under-length impacts the overall development of the task, resulting in a score of 5.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is organized into three short paragraphs, including an introduction, body, and conclusion. Some basic cohesive devices and sequencing words are used, such as 'Overall', 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally'. However, progression is somewhat disjointed, and the referencing is not always clear (e.g., 'that winds mix', 'that dry airs continue'). Paragraphing is also underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. Overall, the organizational structure is basic, supporting a band score of 5.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive, with several noticeable errors that impede clarity, such as spelling 'desert' as 'dessert' ('rain-shadow dessert') and awkward phrasing like 'air in the sky'. While there are attempts to use topic-related terms like 'coastline', 'moisture', and 'winds', the range is limited and minimally adequate. Word choices often lack precision or appropriate collocation, which restricts the lexical score to 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, missing articles, and incorrect prepositions throughout the text, such as 'formation consist of' (agreement error), 'air in the sky transforms into rain and then in dry air reaches', and 'sea at coastline approached by winds'. These frequent errors and awkward structures cause difficulty for the reader and reflect band 5.0 descriptors.

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

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