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 picture demonstrates the formation of a one type of desert which is known as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, there is a long natural process in formation of rain-shadow deserts, whereas, wealther plays it rule significantly.

To the commence with first stage, over the sea, winds approached coast than sea winds push forward to upwards. After that, moise air rised to windward side and became cool. In the next stage, airs formed into clouds which produced rail. Rail fell at the peak of the mountain where dry air continued their movements. After the leeward side, dry winds appeared on inland areas. In that area, rain restored inside the land.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the subject and give a basic account of the sequence, including rising air, cloud formation, rainfall and dry winds reaching inland. However, the response addresses the task only partially: the overview is vague, and the explanation does not clearly show how the process creates a rain-shadow desert. The claim that “rain restored inside the land” is inaccurate; the diagram shows dry winds reaching inland, where the desert lies. Some stages are also unclear or misreported, such as “winds approached coast than sea winds push forward to upwards.” The response is 109 words, below the required 150, so the process is necessarily underdeveloped. Include a clear overview and explain the contrast between the rainy windward side and dry leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the diagram’s general sequence, and phrases such as “After that” and “In the next stage” help signal progression. This gives the reader a basic sense of order. However, the account is presented as one paragraph, and the progression becomes difficult to follow where stages are compressed or linked unclearly—for example, “winds approached coast than sea winds push forward to upwards.” The final sentence, “In that area, rain restored inside the land,” also disrupts the explanation rather than completing it clearly. Use separate paragraphs for an overview and the stages, and connect each stage with precise references to the air, clouds, rainfall and mountain sides.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “clouds,” “peak” and “inland areas,” which helps identify key features. However, the range is limited and several word-choice, spelling or collocation errors make parts difficult to understand. Examples include “wealther,” “moise,” “rised,” and “rail” for rain. Phrases such as “rain restored inside the land” do not convey the diagram’s meaning, while “winds push forward to upwards” is not a natural description. Aim for accurate process language such as “moist air rises,” “cools,” “precipitation falls,” and “dry air descends or continues inland.” Check spelling and use collocations consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a sequence of sentences and use some linking clauses, but the grammatical range is limited and errors occur frequently enough to make several relationships unclear. For example, “the formation of a one type” has an article error, and “winds approached coast than sea winds push forward to upwards” combines tenses and sentence structures inaccurately. In “moise air rised … and became cool,” the verb forms are incorrect; “dry air continued their movements” also has an agreement problem. The final sentence, “In that area, rain restored inside the land,” is grammatically and logically unclear. Practise accurate present-simple passive forms for processes, such as “the winds are forced upwards,” and check articles, agreement and tense consistency.

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