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)

In this diagram we are seeing a diagram which is discribing cycle of the rain shadow deserts .

overall this diagram is revolving around the wind.At the first stage wind is normal not that much cold.But when it started to go upwards towards the peak of the mountain it temperatue started to decrease gradually.and this wind turns into clouds and result in rain fall.After the rain fall the wind is converted into the dry air.And then that air reaches the inland areas

At the started of the diagram the air started to approach the cost line of the sea.The awind is warm at the costline but when it started to move upward to the peak of the mountain the air temperature started to decrease due to the moist air present at the peak of the mountain.

Then this cold air result in forming clouds.And the cloud result in the rain fall.Then the dry air countinues over the mountain.And then this air goes down toward lnland areas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main sequence: air approaches from the sea, rises over the mountain, cools, forms clouds and rain, then continues inland as dry air. This shows a relevant understanding of the process. However, the account is only partial and some explanations are unclear or inaccurate. For example, you say the wind “turns into clouds”; the diagram shows moisture in the rising air forming clouds, rather than wind itself changing into clouds. You also describe the air as “warm” and attribute cooling to “moist air present at the peak,” details not established by the diagram. The overview that the process is “revolving around the wind” is too general. State clearly that rain falls on the windward side and dry air reaches the leeward inland area, creating a rain-shadow desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

The stages are presented broadly in the correct order, and phrases such as “At the first stage” and “Then” help signal sequence. However, the response has no clear paragraph structure, and the progression is weakened by repeating much of the same information: the rising air, cloud formation, rainfall and dry air are described twice. Some links are also mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “And then.” The opening sentence does not lead into a focused overview, while the final sentence repeats the inland movement without completing the explanation of the desert’s formation. Group the process into a concise overview and a logically ordered account, using clear references to the windward and leeward sides.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “peak,” “clouds,” “rain fall,” “dry air” and “inland areas,” so the reader can follow the general topic. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or awkward for describing this diagram. “The wind turns into clouds” does not express the relationship between moist air and cloud formation, and “the wind is normal” is vague. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “discribing,” “costline,” “countinues” and “lnland,” which reduce clarity. Aim for precise process terms and accurate spelling, and avoid repeating general words such as “air” and “wind” when a more specific phrase is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect events with clauses such as “when it started to go upwards” and “when it started to move upward,” but the response relies mainly on simple sentence patterns and contains frequent grammatical errors. Tense and agreement are inconsistent: “this wind turns” shifts from past narration, while “it temperatue started” lacks a possessive form and has an unclear subject. Several sentences run together without appropriate punctuation, for example the sentence beginning “overall this diagram is revolving…” and continuing through the rainfall stage. Articles and sentence openings also need attention. Practise writing one complete sentence for each stage, keeping the tense consistent and checking subject–verb agreement, sentence boundaries and punctuation.

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