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 process diagram dispay how the rain-shadow deserts formate.

Overall , in this picture it's shown the natural method of

formation of rain- shadow deserts while, it's have 7 step and 2 main stage . it's start with winds approaching the sea wather and pushing upwards to the hills and end with dry wind reaching inlnd areas and formuliting the rain-shadow desert.

At the first stage, winds approach the low level of the mountain and winds pushing upward to the mountain as going upper and upper toward the windward side air become cooler and from the shape of cloud and rain in the mountion .

At it's second stage, the dry winds move toward the leewrd side of the mountain and goes down as well as when the dry winds reach to inland ares the rin-shadow desert take it's shape from the thosands kilometres far from the coast . it's is the cyclies method .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and give a broad overview: winds approach from the sea, rise over the mountains, and eventually reach inland as dry winds. This captures the main cause-and-effect pattern. However, several important stages are compressed or unclear. For example, you mention that air becomes cooler and that clouds and rain form, but do not clearly explain that moist air rises and cools before clouds form and precipitation falls on the windward side. The transition over the mountain to the leeward side is also only briefly described. The reference to the desert forming “thousands kilometres far from the coast” misuses the diagram’s scale label, which indicates distance rather than a precise formation stage. Develop the stages more accurately and explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing stages. The sequence from coastal winds to inland dry winds is generally understandable, and phrases such as “At the first stage” and “At it’s second stage” signal progression. However, the division into two stages is not clearly supported by the diagram, which presents a sequence of seven steps, and some links between events are difficult to follow. The overview repeats information from the introduction, while the final sentence, “it’s is the cyclies method,” does not add a clear concluding point. Organise the body around the actual sequence and use clear links such as “as a result” and “after crossing the mountain” to show cause and order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “winds,” “windward side,” “dry winds,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate word choices or forms make parts of the description hard to interpret, such as “formate,” “formuliting,” and “the rain-shadow desert take it’s shape.” Spelling errors such as “mountion,” “leewrd,” and “inlnd” also reduce clarity. Some phrases are imprecise, including “low level of the mountain” and “sea wather,” where the diagram refers to winds approaching from the sea and being forced upwards by the mountains. Build a more accurate process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the response uses sequencing clauses to describe the process. However, grammatical errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between events unclear. For example, “it’s have 7 step” has incorrect subject–verb agreement and number, while “winds pushing upward” lacks a finite verb. In “as going upper and upper toward the windward side air become cooler,” the clause structure and verb agreement are faulty. Articles, possessives, and punctuation are also inconsistent, as in “the rain-shadow desert take it’s shape.” Aim first for accurate simple sentences with a clear subject and verb, then connect them using correctly formed clauses such as “As the moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds.”

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