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 shows how one type of desert known as a rain shadow desert, so the number 1 shows how winds approach coast from sea pushes winds upwards,Then moist air rises and cools and convert into cloud form then rain fall happens. no 6 shows how dry air continues over mountain after rain falls over mountain on leeward side,after that dry winds reach inland areas. The diagram basically shows how winds approach coast on mountain and sea coast is thousands of kilometers away from rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the diagram as a process and mention several relevant stages: winds approach the coast, air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, and dry winds move inland. However, the account is very brief and does not provide a clear, complete summary of how the stages create a rain-shadow desert. The overview is missing, and the final comparison that the sea and desert are “thousands of kilometers away” misreads the scale label, which indicates the horizontal distance shown rather than a specific separation. The response also falls short of the required 150 words: it contains 75 words, with 12 prompt words excluded from the count. To improve, explain the windward and leeward sides and connect the loss of moisture over the mountains to the dry inland conditions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The stages are presented in roughly the correct order, and sequencing phrases such as “after that” help the reader follow the process. However, the response is written as one long, loosely connected sentence, so the progression is difficult to track. The repeated use of “shows” and the abrupt shift to the claim about the distance between the sea and desert weaken the overall organisation. Some links are also unclear, particularly “number 1 shows how winds approach coast from sea pushes winds upwards,” where it is hard to tell which action belongs to which stage. Use separate sentences or paragraphs for the overview and sequence, and connect each stage explicitly with accurate transitions such as “as a result” and “once the air crosses the mountain.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “moist air,” “dry air,” “coast,” and “rain shadow desert,” so the reader can recognise the topic. The vocabulary range is nevertheless limited and repetitive, with “shows,” “winds,” and “rain” doing much of the work. Some word combinations are imprecise, such as “convert into cloud form” and “rain fall happens,” which make the description less natural. There is also a distinction to make between the diagram’s labelled stages and your own phrasing: “clouds form” and “rain falls” are clearer and more accurate than the alternatives used. Build a small set of precise process verbs and geographical terms, such as “ascend,” “condense,” “precipitation,” and “leeward,” and use them in natural combinations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to link several stages in a sequence, but most of the writing relies on one extended sentence, and control of sentence boundaries and punctuation is weak. For example, “The diagram shows how one type of desert known as a rain shadow desert, so the number 1 shows…” is incomplete and then runs into several clauses without clear separation. Verb forms and agreement are also inconsistent in “winds approach coast from sea pushes winds upwards,” while articles are missing in phrases such as “approach coast” and “convert into cloud.” These errors sometimes make the relationships between actions difficult to understand. Use shorter, complete sentences, check that each subject has a matching verb, and add articles where needed; then practise combining stages with accurate subordinate clauses.

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

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