Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-19

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 below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain shadow desert, is form.

Overall, formation of rain shadow deserts. according to the diagram wind from left side of the Mountains approach toward coast. After collide with mountains winds pushed upwards. And after this Most air rises and cools travel to up ward direction to mountains. Then, the heavy wind collide with clouds and after this process. Heavy rain falls to only left side of the Mountains and left ground side of the mountain there was a sea and coast.

As, Mountains land was thousands of kilometres. And after rain falls on the left side dry air continues over mountain to the right side. And the heavy winds started travel leeward side and after this travel Dry winds reach inland areas which was on the ground area of the mountain. And below the right ground sarface of the Mountain there was a Rain-shadow desert. this is the complete formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence: winds approach from the sea, rise over the mountains, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air continues inland to create a rain-shadow desert. This is relevant coverage, but several stages are unclear or inaccurately described. For example, the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form; it does not show wind colliding with clouds or “heavy wind” causing the rain. The overview is also not clearly separated from the stage-by-stage account. The response is 149 words, one word below the required minimum, so it does not meet the length instruction. To strengthen the summary, describe the process accurately and concisely, including the contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows the diagram’s broad left-to-right sequence, and words such as “After,” “Then,” and “And after this” show an attempt to connect stages. However, progression is weakened by repetitive linking phrases and unclear sentence boundaries. The opening “Overall, formation of rain shadow deserts” is incomplete, while the final sentence repeats that this is the complete formation rather than adding useful information. Several ideas are crowded together, making relationships difficult to follow—for instance, the account of rain falling, the sea, and the left side of the mountain. Use a clear overview followed by a logically ordered description, and choose a small range of precise connectors rather than repeating “after this.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” which helps identify important parts of the diagram. However, the range is limited and some repeated or imprecise expressions make the process harder to understand. “Heavy wind” is used where the diagram indicates moist air and later dry winds, and “ground area of the mountain” is not a clear description of inland terrain. There are also word-form and spelling problems, such as “is form,” “Most air,” and “sarface.” Aim for accurate process terms and avoid repeating “after this process”; this will make the description more precise and easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe a sequence using both simple statements and longer clauses, but control of sentence structure is weak. Several sentences are fragments or have incomplete constructions, including “Overall, formation of rain shadow deserts” and “After collide with mountains winds pushed upwards.” Verb forms and agreement are also inconsistent: “is form,” “winds pushed,” and “which was” do not fit their sentence contexts. Punctuation, especially full stops and commas, often divides or joins ideas awkwardly. These errors sometimes make the process difficult to follow. Practise writing complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use consistent present simple forms for a process description, such as “winds rise” and “rain falls.”

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