Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-25

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

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 5.0)

The diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert, known as a rain-shadow is formed.

Firstly, the processing started at winds approch coast from inside the see. Next, winds pushed upwards on mountains.. After Then, the moist air resis and cools on windward side on the top of the mountain. In the fourth step, clouds has clean and neat whos we can show on the highest point of the mountain. And then, started rain falls on the down area of mountains. Moreover, the dry air continues over mountain in down side of leeward. Furthermore, the dry winds reach in the rain shadow desert is in the india. In cintrast, thousents of km, the see cost during the prosess, this is the end of the diagram.

Overall, the diagram compares the prosess about how to wind make rain shadow desert and all steps are clear in this diagram like first go increased then go the down side of mountain. and also shows that how to take xloud water though seeand finaly started

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource4.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.5
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main subject and include several stages shown in the diagram: winds approach the coast, rise over the mountains, cool, form clouds, produce rain, and continue inland as dry winds. However, the account only partially fulfils the task because some descriptions are unclear or inaccurate. For example, “from inside the see” misstates the winds’ approach, and the claim that the desert is “in the india” is not supported by the diagram. The overview is also vague: “first go increased then go the down side” does not clearly summarise the overall process. Give a concise, accurate overview of moist air rising and raining on the windward side, followed by dry air creating a desert inland on the leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the diagram’s sequence and uses signposts such as “Firstly,” “Next,” and “Furthermore,” so the reader can recognise an attempt to organise the stages. However, progression is weakened by awkward transitions and unclear links, particularly “After Then” and “In cintrast,” which do not establish a clear contrast. The final overview is placed after the process but repeats ideas in a confusing way rather than bringing them together. Paragraphing would help distinguish the overview from the stage-by-stage account. Use a simple structure: an opening overview, followed by the stages in order, with accurate connectors such as “As a result” and “On the leeward side.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward,” “moist air,” and “dry winds,” which helps identify key features. However, vocabulary is limited and many word-choice, spelling, and collocation errors make parts difficult to understand. Examples include “clouds has clean and neat,” “the rain shadow desert is in the india,” and “how to take xloud water.” Several words appear to be attempts at the diagram’s labels but are not recognisable, such as “resis” and “thousents.” Aim to use precise, familiar terms from the diagram rather than adding unsupported details. Practise spelling and collocations such as “clouds form,” “rain falls,” and “winds blow inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts to describe a sequence using both simple clauses and longer sentences, but control of sentence structure is weak. Errors in verb forms and agreement occur in phrases such as “the processing started,” “clouds has,” and “started rain falls.” Articles and sentence construction are also problematic, as in “formation of rain-shadow desert” and “the dry winds reach in the rain shadow desert is in the india.” Punctuation, including the repeated full stop in “mountains..,” further disrupts readability. These frequent errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Build accurate short sentences first—for example, “Moist air rises and cools”—then connect them with a correctly formed clause such as “As it cools, clouds form.”

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