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 following diagram depicts how type of desert, known as rain shadow desert is formed.There are seven steps included in this process and this process formed after the thousands of kilometers addition.

Firstly, winds blow on the coastal lines of sea after this winds pushed upward.When air reached at the height air will be moisturing and cool ater this process the air converted into clouds after some time clouds are formed and full of rain water.

In fifth stage of this process rain falling started on the peak of mountain.after this dry air blew continously on the mountains.

At the last stage, dry winds reached inland areas by this process rain shadow desert are formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the process as the formation of a rain-shadow desert and mention several key stages, including winds moving inland, rain falling near the mountains, and dry winds reaching inland areas. However, the account is brief and does not clearly explain the overall pattern: moist air rises on the windward side, cools and forms clouds, then loses moisture as rain before dry air crosses the mountains to the leeward side. The phrase “this process formed after the thousands of kilometers addition” misrepresents the diagram’s scale marker, which indicates distance rather than an additional stage. The response is also 35 words below the required minimum. To develop the summary, include a clear overview and describe the stages and mountain sides more accurately and fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows the broad sequence of the diagram, using “Firstly,” “In fifth stage,” and “At the last stage” to signal progression. This gives the reader some sense of order. However, the stages are compressed into a few long sentences, and links such as “after this” are repeated, making the progression mechanical rather than clearly organised. The opening does not provide a distinct overview, and the paragraph breaks do not separate the general process from its details. For clearer organisation, use an introduction and overview, then group the stages into a logical sequence, with precise links such as “as a result” or “once the air crosses the mountain.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “coastal,” “moist,” “clouds,” “rain,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the main subject is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices or combinations are inaccurate, such as “coastal lines of sea,” “moisturing,” and “thousands of kilometers addition.” “Rain shadow desert” also needs consistent, accurate naming. These expressions sometimes make the intended meaning unclear, particularly when describing the scale marker. Build a more precise set of terms for this process, including “coast,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “precipitation,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and check word forms and collocations before using them.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to connect stages with subordinate clauses, for example, “When air reached at the height…” and “after this…,” but most sentences rely on simple patterns and the longer constructions are often faulty. Errors include missing articles in “how type of desert,” tense shifts in “winds blow” and “air will be,” and agreement in “rain shadow desert are formed.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also inconsistent: “formed.There” and “mountain.after” run words together, while several stages are joined without clear punctuation. These errors sometimes make the sequence harder to follow. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, and use shorter, correctly punctuated sentences before attempting more complex links.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.