Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-30

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 illuatrates the series of stages involved in rain process.Detailng how rain is produced.

overall the process consists distinct steps beginning with winds approach coast and ending with dry wind reach inland areas. It is a cyclic process that involve natural forces.

To begin with winds approach cost and then winds pushed upwards after that moist air rises occurs when winds pushed upwords. Following this clods form then processed of rain is starting. After that it moves to dry air continurs over mountain . Finally the process concludes with dry winds reach inla

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the general sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and mention clouds and rain. However, the response only minimally summarises the diagram: it does not explain the key cause-and-effect stages clearly, such as moist air cooling as it rises, rainfall on the windward side, and dry air crossing the mountain to create a rain-shadow desert on the leeward side. The claim that the process is “cyclic” is not supported by the diagram. The response also stops before completing its final point and contains only 94 words, below the required 150. To improve, give a clear overview and describe each main stage and the resulting desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic sequence, signalled by “To begin with,” “Following,” “After that,” and “Finally,” so the reader can recognise an attempt to describe stages in order. However, the response has no clear paragraph development beyond a brief opening, overview, and one compressed sequence paragraph. Several links are mechanical or unclear: “Following this clods form then processed of rain is starting” does not show precisely how cloud formation leads to rainfall, while “it moves to dry air” has an unclear reference. The ending is also cut off. Organise the stages into complete sentences and use clear references to the air, clouds, and rain; a separate overview and a developed process paragraph would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “dry air,” and “mountain,” which helps identify the topic. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or misspelled choices make parts difficult to understand, such as “rain process,” “clods,” “continurs,” and “inla.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, including “the process of rain is starting” and “moist air rises occurs.” Use the diagram’s precise terms, such as “precipitation,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and choose accurate process verbs such as “ascends,” “cools,” and “continues.” Careful spelling and more precise collocations would make the description clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a few connected clauses, but sentence structures are mostly simple or incomplete, and frequent grammatical errors sometimes obscure the intended meaning. For example, “the process consists distinct steps” is missing a necessary preposition, while “It is a cyclic process that involve natural forces” has subject–verb disagreement. In “moist air rises occurs when winds pushed upwords,” the clause structure and verb forms are not controlled, and “Finally the process concludes with dry winds reach” does not use a grammatical verb pattern. Punctuation and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and verb forms—for example, “The moist air rises and cools, forming clouds.”

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

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