Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 pictorial view illustrate how one type of desert, known as a rain- shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, Moist air rises and take clouds form and its rain falls the formation of rain shadow deserts cycle runs in varied steps.

It has been seen that, Winds approch coast comes and winds pushed upwards during that time moist air rises and cools. which make them denser compareto below air. Moreover, moist airconvert to clouds in form. After that it had shaped in rainy cloud which are sustain a heavy water. Furthermore, this cycle reached at mean points in rain falls. Dry air continues over mountain in leeward side which is totally opposite of windward side. this wind travel thousand of kilometeres. Not only this but also these process take to much time to reached a different stage. However, a winds reach inland areas in last step. The formation of rain shadow deserts are well eleborate in pictorial explaination view.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the subject and report several central stages, including winds approaching the coast, air rising and cooling, rain falling, and dry air moving inland. However, the overview is unclear: “the formation … cycle runs in varied steps” does not summarise the key cause-and-effect pattern. Some details are unsupported or inaccurate, such as saying the air becomes denser than the air below and that the process takes “to much time”; the diagram gives no such information. The description also does not clearly explain that moist air loses its moisture on the windward side before dry air crosses the mountains and creates a desert inland. Your response is 145 words, five short of the required minimum, which limits the development of the stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has a basic sequence, moving from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas, and you use linking expressions such as “After that” and “Furthermore.” However, progression is difficult to follow because several stages are compressed into long, loosely connected sentences. For example, “Winds approch coast comes and winds pushed upwards during that time moist air rises and cools” combines multiple steps without clear boundaries. Some connectors do not show a meaningful relationship, as in “Not only this but also” before an unsupported comment about how long the process takes. Organise the account into a clear overview and a chronological description, using one main stage per sentence and precise links between cause and result.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain falls,” “mountain,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or combinations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the meaning unclear. For instance, “take clouds form” and “convert to clouds in form” do not express cloud formation naturally, while “rainy cloud” and “sustain a heavy water” are unsuitable descriptions. Spelling errors such as “approch,” “kilometeres,” and “eleborate” also reduce accuracy. Build a more precise set of process verbs and collocations, such as “rise,” “cool,” “condense,” “precipitate,” and “continue inland,” and check spelling before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use sequencing clauses, but the range is limited and complex constructions are often faulty. Errors in verb forms and agreement appear in “The pictorial view illustrate” and “Moist air rises and take clouds form.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also unreliable: “which make them denser compareto below air” begins as an incomplete clause, and “which are sustain a heavy water” has a faulty verb construction. Capitalisation after full stops is inconsistent, as in “which make” and “this wind.” These errors can make the sequence hard to interpret. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then connect them with controlled clauses, checking subject–verb agreement, verb forms, and punctuation.

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