Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02

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 formation of a rain-shadow desert which is thousands of kilometers below mountains.

Overall mountain comprises of three sides such as windward side, leeward side and inland where the rain-shadow is formed. It involves 7 steps with winds approaching the coast being the initial step and dry winds travel to inland areas being the final step.

Firstly winds approaches to the sea to the coast and pushed upwards. Along the way moist aire is rinsed which then cools and formation of clouds take place. Rain falls continuously at windward side and dry air continues over mountain at leeward side. Dry winds are then travelled to inland areas.

This process takes place thousands of kilometers below the mountains starting frim the windward side and travelling to leeward and finally reaching inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the formation of a rain-shadow desert, noting the general stages from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas. However, the explanation is only partially developed and contains inaccurate spatial details, such as stating the desert is 'thousands of kilometers below mountains' rather than across the leeward side of the mountains. Furthermore, the length requirement is not met, as the response falls short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 132 words. To achieve a higher band, all key stages of the process must be reported more accurately and fully, and the word count threshold must be satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is some basic organisation with an introductory overview and subsequent body details, but there is no clear overall progression throughout the text. Cohesive devices are minimal and sometimes repetitive or inaccurate, such as the mechanical repetition of 'Firsty winds approaches' and 'Then'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the logical flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, particularly in how the stages of the process transition from one to the next. To improve, the writer needs to use a wider and more accurate range of cohesive markers to guide the reader smoothly through the sequence of the diagram.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task, with noticeable word choice and word form errors that occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. For example, the student writes 'formation of a rain-shadow desert which is thousands of kilometers below mountains' and 'moist aire is rinsed', where 'rinsed' is an incorrect word form for 'rises'. There are also minor spelling slips, such as 'Firsty' instead of 'Firstly' and 'frim' instead of 'from'. To reach a higher band, the writer should use a broader range of precise scientific vocabulary related to geographical processes and ensure correct word forms and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer demonstrates a very limited range of sentence structures, relying primarily on simple sentences and basic active forms. Attempts at more complex descriptions frequently result in faulty grammar and awkward phrasing, such as 'winds approaches to the sea to the coast' and 'Dry winds are then travelled to inland areas', which misuses passive voice. Frequent errors in prepositions, subject-verb agreement, and articles are present throughout the text and cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the student needs to incorporate a wider variety of error-free complex sentence structures and improve control over basic grammatical patterns.

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

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