Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 illustrates the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, this process consists of seven stages began with winds approach coast and ends with dry winds reach inland areas. During this procedure, winds are pushed, cloud formed, rain fall and dry air continues beofore the final process.

In the initial stages, wind take coast by the upper layer of the sea. After that, winds pushed coast to the upward and air rises and formed cool. Clouds are formed before the process of rain fall.

On the other stages, dry air continues over the mountain on the leeward side.

Dry winds reach inland areas and its converted into inland. Finally, the rain-shadow deserts are made in the surface of the inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a process and give its broad direction: winds approach the coast, rain falls near the mountains, and dry winds reach inland areas. However, the account only partially covers the stages and includes unclear or inaccurate descriptions, such as “wind take coast by the upper layer of the sea” and “its converted into inland.” The overview lists events but does not clearly explain the key cause-and-effect pattern: moist air rises on the windward side, cools and produces rain, leaving dry air to cross the leeward side and create a desert inland. The response is also 31 words below the required minimum, limiting the detail provided. Explain the stages more fully and accurately, especially the contrast between the two sides of the mountains.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, an overview, and paragraphs describing earlier and later stages. Sequencing phrases such as “Overall,” “In the initial stages,” “After that,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the intended order. However, progression is not consistently clear: “On the other stages” is an awkward transition, and the final sentences repeat the idea of reaching inland without clearly linking it to the formation of the desert. Some references, including “this procedure” and “its,” are unclear. Group the stages into a clear sequence and use linking expressions to show cause and result, rather than relying mainly on time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use several relevant terms from the diagram, including “rain-shadow deserts,” “leeward side,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is recognisable. However, the vocabulary range is limited, and several word choices or collocations make the process difficult to understand. For example, “wind take coast,” “winds pushed coast to the upward,” and “its converted into inland” do not express the intended actions naturally. There is also a spelling error in “beofore.” Use precise process vocabulary and natural combinations, such as winds “approach the coast,” air “rises and cools,” and rain “falls on the windward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and a longer overview, but the range of structures is limited and errors occur frequently. Verb forms and agreement are often inaccurate: “this process consists of seven stages began” needs a correctly formed clause, while “wind take” and “rain fall” do not match the intended tense or subject. Other examples include “air rises and formed cool” and “dry air continues beofore,” where the relationships between actions are not grammatically expressed. Articles and sentence construction also need attention. Practise describing processes consistently in the present simple, using forms such as “winds are pushed upwards” and “moist air rises and cools,” and check each sentence for a complete, correctly linked clause.

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

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