Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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 illustrates how one type of desert form rain-shadow.

Overall, the formation of rain-shadow deserts consists in seven stages. However before the rain-shadow form it travel thousands of kilometres thhrough sea, coast, mountain and Inland plays major role to prudce rain-shadow desert. Moreover it begin with how winds approach coast to reached Inland areas.

To begin with, winds approach coast and with the help of sea waves it pushed upwards. Second steps winds pushed upwards, it moist air and spread rises and cools before it became clouds. In stage four, cloudy weather appers with help of cloud form then rain falls began on mountain.

In additions, the rest of water slipped at right side of mountain which is known as leeward side. Furthermore, dry air continuously came over the mountain. Finally, dry winds reached inland areas on Inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe the process diagram showing the formation of rain-shadow deserts, but it falls short of the 150-word minimum, containing only 140 words. The overview is partially presented, and while the stages of the process are mentioned, the explanation of the sequence is limited and lacks adequate development. Some parts of the process are obscured by mechanical copying of labels or unclear descriptions, such as the mention that 'sea waves it pushed upwards' and the somewhat disjointed overview statement. To reach a higher level, the response would need to meet the word count requirement, provide a clearer and more developed overview of the main stages, and report the key features of the diagram with greater precision and elaboration.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response shows some organization with paragraphs and basic transitional phrases such as 'To begin with', 'In additions', and 'Finally'. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the logical flow between sentences is frequently disrupted by awkward phrasing and mechanical transitions. For instance, paragraphs are somewhat abruptly structured, and referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in phrases like 'Second steps winds pushed upwards'. Cohesive devices are used, but they are sometimes inaccurate or repetitive. To improve, the writer needs to ensure a smoother logical progression throughout the text, use a wider and more accurate range of cohesive devices without mechanical overuse, and ensure that each paragraph builds logically upon the previous one to guide the reader seamlessly through the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary related to the diagram, such as 'rain-shadow desert', 'leeward side', and 'inland areas', but there are noticeable errors in word choice, form, and collocation, such as 'form rain-shadow' instead of 'form a rain-shadow', 'prudce' instead of 'produce', and 'cloudy weather appers' instead of 'clouds appear'. Spelling errors and incorrect word forms occur throughout the text, which occasionally causes some difficulty for the reader. To achieve a higher band, the student must expand their vocabulary range, use precise terminology correctly, and minimize spelling and word formation errors to communicate ideas more fluently and accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on basic sentences, while attempts at more complex sentences are frequently faulty. There are frequent errors in verb forms, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and articles throughout the text, such as 'desert form rain-shadow', 'it travel thousands', 'it begin', and 'rain falls began'. Punctuation and preposition use also show persistent inaccuracies, such as 'reached Inland areas on Inland'. These frequent grammatical errors can cause some difficulty for the reader and impede comprehension. To improve, the writer needs to practice forming accurate complex sentence structures, ensure correct verb tense consistency when describing a continuous process, and pay closer attention to articles, prepositions, and grammatical agreement.

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