Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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 given illustration depicts the step-by-step formation of a desert named sa rain-shadow desert.

Steps:

Rain-shadow desert formation includes following steps:

1. The blowing winds reaches the sea near hilly or mountainous region, the water surface tension breaks as the temperature rises and convert the water molecules into vapours.

2. Above air pushes the vaporized water molecules upwards to lower its temperature and condensed back to water which is followed by a cloud formation.

3. The condensed water stored in clouds which floats freely on the mountain edges or cover their surface until cloud becomes heavy in weight because of holding water, it starts raining heavily on the mountains.

4. As the dry air blows over the mountains downwards, drying the rain droplets.

5. As soon these droplets and dry air reache the inland areas of the mountains, they become entrapped keeping the land

moist and wet. The appread surface looks like a desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the topic and describe several stages, including winds moving towards the mountains, cloud formation, rainfall, and air continuing inland. However, the account only partially represents the diagram and includes unsupported explanations, such as water-surface tension breaking and droplets becoming trapped to keep the land wet. The final claim that the inland area becomes “moist and wet” contradicts the rain-shadow desert shown: dry winds reach the inland area beyond the leeward side, where the desert forms. The overview is also missing, so the main contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland is not clearly summarised. Focus on the diagram’s labelled sequence and avoid adding causes or outcomes it does not show.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The numbered stages give the response a basic sequence, and the reader can follow a broad movement from the coast towards the mountains and inland. However, the organisation is not consistently clear: the opening and “Steps” heading repeat the same purpose, while the five numbered points do not match the seven stages in the diagram and combine several processes into long explanations. Connections between ideas are sometimes confusing, particularly the transition from rainfall to “drying the rain droplets” and then to the claim that the land remains wet. Use a short overview followed by clearly ordered stages, with one main event per sentence and accurate links such as “as a result” or “then.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “vapours,” “condensed,” “cloud formation,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the general subject. However, word choice and spelling are often inaccurate or awkward, and some phrases make the process difficult to understand. For example, “water surface tension breaks” and “drying the rain droplets” do not describe the diagram accurately, while “the appread surface” appears to be a misspelling that obscures the meaning. “Blowing winds” and “heavy in weight” are also less natural choices in this context. Build a more precise set of geographical process terms and use straightforward collocations such as “moist air rises,” “rain falls,” and “dry air descends.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some longer sentences and uses sequencing language, but control is uneven. Errors in agreement and verb forms appear in “the blowing winds reaches” and “convert the water molecules,” while “As soon these droplets” is missing a necessary word. Several sentences contain unclear or incomplete grammatical relationships, especially the second and third numbered stages, where clauses are joined without clear control. The final sentence, “The appread surface looks like a desert,” is also difficult to interpret. Prefer shorter, complete sentences to explain each stage, checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and clause connections before attempting more complex structures.

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