Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 diagram shows the formation of rain-shadow dessert. There are total seven stages of how a dessert is formed. Starting with air being approach from the coast which later forms into clouds followed by the dry winds reaching the inland area.

To begin with, winds travel from sea coast and pushes itself in upward direction on the windward side due to which the level of moist air rises and later cools down. The cool down air form clouds in the sky leading to heavy rainfall at the top of the mountain.

Once the air passes the mountains peak dry air continues over mountain on the other side of the mountain which is leeward side, it pushes the air downwards in this process dry winds reaches inland area where rain-shadow dessert forms.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the process of rain-shadow desert formation, identifying key stages such as winds approaching the coast, rising and cooling moist air, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry winds reaching inland areas. However, there are significant omissions and inaccuracies in reporting the visual data; for instance, spelling errors like 'dessert' instead of 'desert' appear, and the description misses some spatial relationships, such as the scale of thousands of kilometres. Crucially, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 132 words, which directly impacts the task achievement score.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text is organized into three paragraphs, beginning with an introductory overview and followed by sequential body paragraphs detailing the stages of the process. Cohesive devices are utilized to signal progression, such as 'To begin with' and 'Once the air passes'. However, referencing and logical transitions are sometimes clumsy, as seen in the sentence 'Once the air passes the mountains peak dry air continues over mountain on the other side of the mountain which is leeward side'. Paragraphing is attempted, but overall progression is hindered by repetitive phrasing and awkward transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for a basic description of the process diagram, including terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland area'. However, there are notable lexical errors and spelling mistakes, most prominently the repeated misspelling of 'desert' as 'dessert'. Other awkward collocations and word forms appear, such as 'air being approach' instead of 'approaching air' and 'cool down air' instead of 'cooled air'. The range of vocabulary remains limited and repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'air being approach from the coast', 'pushes itself in upward direction', and run-on or fused sentences like 'Once the air passes the mountains peak dry air continues over mountain on the other side of the mountain which is leeward side, it pushes the air downwards'. Punctuation is also neglected in places, leading to readability issues. Complex structures are often faulty.

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