Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 proveided diagram illustrates how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed. By following 7 steps from winds approach coast to finnaly sumup with dry winds reach inland areas.

Overall, it is clear that the process begains with first step-winds approach and ended with seventh step dry winds reach inland areas to form rain-shadow desert.Additionally the mountain is also shown in the illustration the upper part of the mountain likely coverd with snow, it is spreaded about 1000 of kilometers.

Looking at the details, the process commenced with initally winds approach coast then winds pushed upward in the second step afterthat in the third stage moistrises and cools to form clouds in the fourth stage. additionally in the fifth step rain falls.

Moving towards the remaning process, in 6th step dry air continues over mountain on the leeward side, meanwhile in the final step dry winds reach inlad ares to form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and report its main sequence, including the upward movement of moist air, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air crossing the mountain. However, the account is only partially complete: it does not explain the key cause-and-effect link that rising air cools and loses moisture, leaving dry air on the leeward side. The claim that the mountain is “covered with snow” is not supported by the diagram, and the scale is misread: it indicates thousands of kilometres, not that the mountain itself is spread over about 1,000 kilometres. The response also falls five words short of the 150-word minimum. Add accurate explanation of the process and a fuller overview to develop the task more completely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “Looking at the details” and “Moving towards the remaining process” signal a shift. However, progression is weakened by repetitive stage-by-stage wording and mechanical connectors, including repeated “step” references and “additionally.” Some sentences run together without adequate punctuation, particularly the overview and the description of stages two to five, making relationships between ideas less clear. Organise the process into a smoother cause-and-effect account, and use linking expressions selectively rather than relying on formulaic transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “winds,” “coast,” “moist,” “clouds,” “rain,” and “leeward side,” so the reader can identify the subject and most stages. However, the range is limited and several spelling errors make the writing less clear, such as “proveided,” “finnaly,” “begains,” and “inlad ares.” Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural: “sumup with” does not fit the final stage, while “spreaded about 1000 of kilometers” misdescribes the scale. Aim for accurate process collocations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “precipitation,” “inland,” and “rain-shadow effect” would help describe the diagram clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the basic sequence can usually be understood. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to read. For example, “the process begains with first step-winds approach and ended with seventh step” shifts tense and lacks grammatical structure; “moistrises and cools” also needs a clear subject and separation of the verbs. Articles and sentence boundaries are often missing, as in “mountain is also shown” and the run-on description beginning “then winds pushed upward.” Use consistent present tense for a process diagram, form complete clauses, and punctuate each stage clearly.

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