Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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 illustrate how rain-shadow desert produced in 7 steps starting from how winds access the sea side to Dry winds reach the inland places.

Overall, the process consist of 7 main steps, beginning with winds approach cost and ending with Dry winds reach inland areas.

First of all, in first step winds reaching the cost the mountains force the winds upwards. After that moist air increases and cools, where air converts into clouds, that clouds convert into rains falls in 5th step. Consequently, 6th step dry air continues over mountain crossing the Leeward side then reaching the 7th step that is low humidity air.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and include its broad direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland. However, the account is only partial: it does not clearly explain that the sea-facing mountains force the moist air upward, that cooling leads to cloud formation and rain on the windward side, and that the resulting dry winds create a rain-shadow desert on the leeward side. The overview largely repeats the number and endpoints of the stages rather than summarising the key cause-and-effect pattern. The response also falls 44 words short of the required minimum, leaving important stages and the final outcome underdeveloped. Include a fuller overview and describe the complete sequence accurately.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic chronological structure: you introduce the process, give an overview, and then describe stages using “First of all,” “After that,” and “Consequently.” This helps the reader recognise the intended sequence. However, the response has little paragraph development, and the final description compresses several stages into one long sentence, making the progression difficult to follow. Some links are also unclear: “where air converts into clouds” does not clearly show the relationship between cooling and cloud formation, while “then reaching the 7th step” makes the subject of the action uncertain. Organise the stages into clearer sentences and use linking expressions to show cause and result, not just order.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “dry air,” and “Leeward side,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the description hard to interpret. For example, “winds access the sea side” is not a natural way to describe winds approaching from the sea, and “air converts into clouds” misrepresents cloud formation. “Low humidity air” is also less precise than the diagram’s description of dry winds reaching inland. Use the diagram’s key terms consistently—such as “windward,” “leeward,” “precipitation,” and “rain-shadow desert”—and choose verbs that express the process accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more connected sentences, including a sequence with “After that” and “Consequently.” However, the range is limited, and frequent errors in sentence structure and verb forms make some stages difficult to understand. For instance, “The process diagram illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, while “rain-shadow desert produced” is missing an auxiliary verb. The opening sentence also lacks a clear grammatical structure, and the clause beginning “that clouds convert into rains falls” is faulty. Articles and punctuation are inconsistent as well. Practise forming accurate present-simple passive sentences for processes, such as “The air is forced upwards” and “Rain falls,” then check agreement and sentence boundaries.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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