Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 schematic illustrates the formation of rain-shadow deserts over the distance of thousands of kilometers.

Overall, the procedure is divided into seven different climatic stages. Additionally, conversion from several water and hily geograhical region is also invovled.

Initially, in the windward side, the tidal winds from the coastal areas adjacent to mountains aroses in the upward direction after collision. Furthermore, as the at the high elevations the moisture content increases in them eventually forming them clouds. The clouds results in the rain at the hill top.

Moreover, the leftover dry winds blow downwards at the leeward side. The winds without water content due to thier dry and light nature blew themselves in the lower directions. These winds further reaches Inland area over the period of time resulting in the formation of rain shadow desert. Overall, the distacnes

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process as having seven stages and describe its broad direction from the coast, across the mountains, and into inland areas. The account also includes the key outcome: dry winds reach inland and a rain-shadow desert forms. However, the overview is unclear (“conversion from several water and hily geograhical region”), and some stages are inaccurately explained. In particular, moisture does not increase as air rises; moist air cools, clouds form, and rain falls on the windward side. The response also ends with an incomplete reference to distances and does not fully explain the diagram’s main cause-and-effect sequence. The required minimum of 150 words is not met, which limits how fully the stages can be reported. Clarify the overview and explain each stage accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic sequence, signalled by “Initially,” “Furthermore,” and “Moreover,” and the reader can follow the movement from the coast to the inland desert. The opening overview and the later description also show an attempt to organise the response. However, progression is weakened by unclear or incomplete sentences, especially “Additionally, conversion from several water and hily geograhical region is also invovled” and the final fragment, “Overall, the distacnes.” Some linking words are used mechanically, and “Overall” is repeated without adding a clear summary. Group the stages into a clear introduction/overview and a chronological body, and use links that show cause and sequence precisely.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You attempt some topic-related vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture content,” and “rain shadow desert,” which helps identify the process. However, the range is limited and several choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “tidal winds,” “clouds results in the rain,” and “conversion from several water.” Spelling errors—including “geograhical,” “invovled,” “thier,” and “distacnes”—are noticeable and sometimes make the intended meaning harder to understand. Prefer precise process language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe air as “moist,” say it “rises and cools,” and use “precipitation” or “rainfall” for the rain stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence with “as” and a result clause beginning “resulting in.” However, errors are frequent, and some sentence structures make the process difficult to follow. Examples include “the tidal winds … aroses,” “as the at the high elevations,” and “These winds further reaches Inland area.” These show problems with verb forms, agreement, sentence construction, and articles. The final words, “Overall, the distacnes,” form an incomplete sentence. Build accuracy first with clear subject–verb patterns, such as “The winds rise” and “The dry air reaches the inland area,” then add subordinate clauses where you can control them.

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