Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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)

This diagram illustrates the process how one type of desert, known as rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, it is a cyclical process consisting of several stages, beginning the sea has in left side of the mountains, while the winds approach to pushed upward coast. After this they will become clouds which water coast approach the wind moreover pushed upwards. After rain falling all the mountains washed which is dry moreover, drops of rain fall into desert.

Initially, at the first step winds approach coast and pushed upward to the sky. After the step, these are moist air rises and cools moreover they transformed into clouds form. Following the conversion the rain fall down over the mountain both side windward side and leeward side.

Simultaneously, in six steps the dry air continues over the mountains which is center of sea and desert. After the dry the mountain the dry winds reach inland areas but also the rain shadow in the desert island. In addition the distance between sea furthermore desert is thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the diagram showing the formation of a rain-shadow desert, fulfilling the minimum length requirement with 173 words. However, the task achievement is significantly hindered by severe confusion in the description of the stages. Phrases such as 'beginning the sea has in left side of the mountains, while the winds approach to pushed upward coast' and 'after rain falling all the mountains washed which is dry moreover, drops of rain fall into desert' are extremely garbled and fail to accurately report the main features and sequence of the process. While some key elements like the sea, winds, mountains, and rain-shadow desert are mentioned, the lack of coherent explanation prevents the response from fully addressing all parts of the task effectively. This aligns with a Band 5 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response is divided into four paragraphs, which gives it a basic framework of organisation. However, the progression of ideas is frequently disrupted by incoherent phrasing and improper logical sequencing. Transitions between sentences feel mechanical or confused, as seen in expressions like 'After the step, these are moist air rises and cools moreover they transformed into clouds form.' Furthermore, referencing is often unclear, leaving the reader struggling to follow the relationship between the sea, the windward and leeward sides, and the inland desert. While cohesive devices are attempted, they are frequently inaccurate or inadequately used, resulting in a performance that fits the Band 5 level descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses a limited and frequently inappropriate range of vocabulary. Words and terms from the prompt and diagram—such as 'sea', 'coast', 'winds', 'mountains', and 'desert'—are employed, but attempts to use less common or academic vocabulary result in severe word choice and collocation errors (e.g., 'drops of rain fall into desert island', 'after the dry the mountain'). Repetition of basic terms is common, and lexical inaccuracies frequently impede communication and strain the reader. This performance is characteristic of Band 4.5 to 5.0, comfortably warranting a Band 5 score under IELTS guidelines.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors, incorrect verb forms, and awkward syntactic arrangements throughout the text (e.g., 'This diagram illustrates the process how one type of desert... is formed', 'winds approach to pushed upward coast', 'the rain fall down over the mountain both side'). Punctuation is also problematic in places. These errors occur in almost every sentence and frequently cause difficulty for the reader, placing the response firmly at Band 4.5, which rounds to a Band 5 for this criterion.

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

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