Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

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)

INTRODUCTION:

The process diagram illustrates how to a rain shadow deserts is formed.

Overview:

Overall, it is a linear process consisting of seven stages, starting with winds approaching from the sea and ending with dry winds and this process which consists of around seven stages.

Paragraph 1

Firstly, the winds approaching on the sea of the coast then the gale pushed the some drops of water through upward position. Next the moist air increases these drops and cools the water for more rises to upward after that its convert into clouds form and clouds to be filled by the water drops.

Paragraph 2

Additinally, when cloud fully completed then the water falling get out the cloud on the earth and the second last process dry air continues over mountain then water flow through leeward side. At the end dry winds reach the water in the rain-shadow desert and against in the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and give its broad direction: winds come from the sea, rain falls near the mountains, and dry air continues inland. This captures some central stages. However, several details are unclear or inaccurate, so the process is only partially reported. For example, “the gale pushed the some drops of water” does not explain that air is forced upwards by the mountains, and “water flow through leeward side” conflicts with the diagram, which shows dry air continuing over that side. The overview also repeats the seven-stage idea rather than summarising the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and desert formation inland. Describe each stage accurately and make that contrast explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable introduction, overview and two body paragraphs, and sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Next,” and “At the end” help signal the order. However, progression is not consistently clear because several stages are compressed into confusing sentences, such as “Next the moist air increases these drops and cools the water for more rises to upward.” The overview repeats itself, and the second paragraph’s “second last process” is an imprecise reference that makes the sequence harder to follow. Use one clear sentence for each main stage, connect causes and results explicitly, and avoid repeating the same point. This would make the organisation more coherent and the links less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “dry air,” “mountain,” and “inland areas,” showing a basic range for describing the diagram. However, word choice and collocation are often inaccurate or unclear, which sometimes makes the meaning difficult to recover. For instance, “the gale pushed the some drops of water” misrepresents the movement of air, while “cloud fully completed” and “dry winds reach the water” do not express the intended stages. There are also spelling errors such as “Additinally.” Build a more precise set of process terms—such as “is forced upwards,” “condenses,” and “precipitation”—and check that each verb describes the diagram accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt to use both sequencing clauses and longer sentences, but control is limited and errors frequently obscure relationships between stages. Examples include “how to a rain shadow deserts is formed,” “the winds approaching on the sea of the coast,” and “when cloud fully completed,” where articles, verb forms and sentence structure are faulty. The sentence beginning “Next the moist air increases…” also lacks a clear grammatical connection between the actions. Most sentences need more reliable basic patterns before adding complexity. Practise accurate passive forms for processes, such as “the air is forced upwards” and “clouds are formed,” and check subject–verb agreement, articles and punctuation.

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