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 diagram illustrates information about the formation of rain- shadow deserts. It is shows clear that how one type of deserts, known as a rain- shadow desert. Ther are different step those explain water circle and rainfall.

Overall, the diagram is start from step first there is a sea and winds approach coast after that winds pushed moist upwards. Furthermore, moist air rises and cools and turn into clouds form. The fifth step is clouds become rainfalls, and rainfalls occor there.

On the other hand, again dry winds continues over mountain. Additionally, dry winds reach in land areas. This is the all water circle of rainfalls.

To conclude the diagram, it can be shows tha fact that the sea one side of the diagram and other side dry sand, and middle of the the diagram mountains, those show that why desert areas have minimum rainfalls and hill areas have maximum rainfalls.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as the formation of a rain-shadow desert and report several central stages: winds approach the coast, moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, and dry winds continue inland. This gives the reader a basic account of the sequence. However, the explanation is only partly accurate and developed. The diagram shows winds being forced upwards by the mountains, with rain falling on the windward side; these relationships are not clearly explained. The overview also calls the process a “water circle,” which misrepresents the diagram, and the final claim that hill areas have maximum rainfall is not directly supported. To strengthen the response, describe the mountain’s role and contrast the wet windward side with the dry leeward inland area more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, and words such as “Overall,” “Furthermore,” and “Additionally” signal an attempt to guide the reader through the process. The stages are mostly presented in sequence, so the general topic remains understandable. However, progression is weakened by unclear or repetitive linking, including “On the other hand, again,” which does not express a meaningful contrast, and “This is the all water circle,” which does not clearly conclude the sequence. The opening and final paragraphs also repeat the idea of describing the diagram rather than adding a concise overview. Organise the stages into a clear beginning-to-end account, use links only when their relationship is accurate, and make references such as “there” explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rainfalls,” “dry winds,” and “mountain,” which helps communicate the subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate enough to make parts of the explanation awkward or unclear. For example, “water circle” is not an appropriate description of this process, “rainfalls” is used where “rain” or “precipitation” is needed, and “dry sand” does not accurately name the inland rain-shadow desert. Spelling errors such as “Ther” and “occor” also reduce clarity. Build a more precise set of process terms and check spelling and collocations; the suggestions below offer useful replacements.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple sentences and longer clauses, for example, “Furthermore, moist air rises and cools and turn into clouds form.” This shows an effort to connect stages, but the sentence contains several grammatical problems that make the relationship difficult to follow. Errors are frequent in verb forms, sentence construction, agreement, and articles: “It is shows clear that how” and “the diagram is start from step first” are examples. The final sentence also has an incomplete construction in “it can be shows tha fact.” These patterns mean that meaning is sometimes obscured, despite the reader being able to recognise the general process. Practise writing one accurate sentence for each stage, then combine ideas using controlled clauses and check subject–verb agreement and verb forms.

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