Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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)

Well, the sketch diagram describes the information related to rain shadow deserts , in this picture how the rain predictably work on before the mountains and than turn the dry air over mountains towards to the desserts area. Firs of all windows starting through sea area than go towards through upside to the mountains winds pushed upwards . On the third point the air forcefully turn cold and rises to the rain and it turn into clouds , after this it convert into rain . And if the mountains other side had a desert the rain get dry and turn into winds an continue rising to the desert side , and this dry wind turn to the rain shadow thats the wind calls rain shadow. The wind area upward to the mountains to deserts has distance around thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response addresses the task only partially and falls short of the minimum length requirement, containing 140 words instead of the required 150. While the student attempts to describe the stages shown in the diagram, such as 'Winds pushed upwards' and 'rain falls', the coverage is disjointed and fails to report the main features clearly. Important elements, such as the distinction between the windward and leeward sides or the broader geographic progression, are obscured by unclear phrasing and confusion regarding how a rain-shadow desert is actually formed. Consequently, the ideas remain limited, mechanical, and under-developed, preventing a full overview of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation in the sequencing of ideas, starting with 'Firs of all' and attempting to follow the steps of the diagram numerically. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the text reads as a single, dense block lacking proper paragraphing. Cohesive devices are either missing, inadequate, or repetitive, making the flow bumpy and difficult to follow. Referencing is frequently unclear, as seen in expressions like 'on the third point' and 'thats the wind calls rain shadow', which creates confusion about the relationship between the ideas and the visual data.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and basic, with noticeable errors that cause difficulty for the reader. The student relies on inaccurate word choices and misuses terms, such as writing 'windows' instead of 'winds', 'desserts' instead of 'deserts', and 'predictably work' instead of operating naturally. Attempts to use less common vocabulary result in awkward phrasing and unnatural collocations, such as 'forcefully turn cold'. Spelling errors and incorrect word forms further impede communication and demonstrate restricted control over vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response exhibits a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying primarily on simple sentences with frequent structural faults. There are numerous errors in basic grammar, including missing or incorrect prepositions ('through sea area'), poor subject-verb agreement ('the rain get dry'), and awkward relative clauses ('thats the wind calls rain shadow'). Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on sentences and missing capitalization. These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader in parsing the intended meaning.

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

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