Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-01

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 data present the formation a kind of desert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it depends on the winds that comes from the sea creating Dry winds reach inland ,as a result of rain falls from the clouds that are formed.

The winds that are approach coast pushed upwards from creating Clouds, which causes Rain falls in the top of Mountains.

The Rain makes air dry which continues over mountain until it reaches inland areas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You identify the topic and mention several relevant stages, including winds coming from the sea, air rising over mountains, rain, and dry winds reaching inland. However, the process is only minimally described: the sequence and cause-and-effect relationships are unclear, and key details such as moist air cooling, cloud formation, and the windward and leeward sides are not accurately explained. The statement that “The Rain makes air dry” misrepresents the diagram: rain falls on the windward side, after which dry air continues over the mountain. The overview is also unclear. In addition, the response is substantially below the required 150 words, leaving too little space to summarise the main stages adequately. Describe the full sequence and its outcome more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an opening sentence is followed by an overall statement and then a short account of the process. The reader can identify a broad movement from the sea towards inland areas. However, progression between stages is not consistently clear, and the final sentence does not fully connect the rainfall with the subsequent movement of dry air. Linking is limited, with “Overall” and “as a result” doing most of the work, and the comma placement around these phrases makes the relationships harder to follow. Use a clearer sequence of stages, supported by connectors such as “as,” “therefore,” and “after crossing the mountain,” and separate the overview from the detailed process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses some relevant topic vocabulary, including “winds,” “clouds,” “rain,” “mountains,” and “inland areas,” so the general subject is recognisable. However, the range is narrow and several phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “The data present the formation” and “winds that are approach coast.” Capitalising common process terms such as “Rain” and “Clouds” is also inconsistent. More precise process vocabulary would help distinguish the stages and locations, particularly moist air, cooling, precipitation, and the windward and leeward sides. Aim to use accurate collocations and avoid repeating basic terms when a more specific word is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and a longer sentence beginning “Overall,” but the range remains limited and complex structures are often faulty. Errors include subject–verb agreement in “winds that comes,” the incorrect form in “winds that are approach,” and missing or misplaced articles and prepositions in “pushed upwards from creating Clouds” and “in the top of Mountains.” The sentence “Overall, it depends on the winds…” also has an unclear reference for “it,” while punctuation around “inland” disrupts the sentence. These errors sometimes make the sequence difficult to understand. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, checking agreement and sentence boundaries before adding more complex clauses.

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