Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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 illustrate the process from the dry wind carrying the water from sea to formation of rain shadow desert in the around the mountain range.

The process is summerized as the moist wind from sea form a clouds which cause rain on the mountain top and the dry air continues over moutain to inland area which is known as rain shadow area.

In the initial stages, the wind above the sea surface pushed in upward direction which carries the water in moist form. These moist and cool air form a cloud which cause rain fall over the top of mountains. After the rain, the dry air continues over the mountain and flows downward side which move furthur toward the inland areas which is called as rain shadow area.

In conclusion, the wind from the costal area form a cloud on the top of mountain, these mountain cause rain and the remainded dry air creats a rain showdow desesrt surface.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by outlining the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation, such as winds approaching the coast, moisture cooling to form clouds, rain falling on the windward side, and dry air continuing to inland areas. However, the information is presented in a somewhat repetitive manner across the body paragraphs and the overview lacks clarity. Key details from the visual data, such as the distinction between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain range, are only partially developed or glossed over as 'downward side', limiting the depth of the overview and reporting.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The text is organized into distinct paragraphs, including an introduction, body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion, which provides a basic framework. However, there is a lack of clear overall progression because ideas tend to circle back on the same stages without advancing the description smoothly. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In the initial stages' and 'In conclusion', but referencing is sometimes mechanical or imprecise, leading to a choppy flow that affects the overall logical coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic steps of the process. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as 'dry wind carrying the water from sea to formation', 'summerized', 'remainded', 'creats', and 'desesrt'. Word forms are also frequently misused, for instance writing 'costal area' instead of 'coastal area' and 'furthur' instead of 'further'. These errors occasionally cause difficulty for the reader and reflect a restricted lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writing relies on a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are persistent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'The diagram illustrate' and 'moist and cool air form', missing articles such as 'from sea' and 'on top of mountain', and incorrect prepositions like 'in the around the mountain range'. Punctuation is also weak, with run-on sentences joined without proper conjunctions, causing frequent reading difficulty.

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

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