Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-05

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 5.5)

The diagram illustrates how a particular type of desert is formed, named as rain shahdow desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages, Wind blows from sea side and pushed to the top of mountains. The temperature of the wind falls and create watervapors. Rain occurs at the top of mountains and led dry air to reach inland areas. In addition, the wind blowing through the mountains streched across thousands of kilometers.

Taking a brief overlook to the process, wind blows from sea to coast followed by an upward pushed encountered by mountains and reach to the top of it. As air rises gradually, it cools down and form watervapor. Which drops in the form of rainfall.

In a subsequent stage at the other side of mountain known as leeward side. Wind passes over mountain and drops it temperature lead to a dry air. This dry air reaches the inland areas. Lack of moisture in the air causes significant decrease in the rainfall. Therefore the land becomes desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence and give an overview that links rainfall on the mountain’s windward side with dry air reaching inland, so the response is relevant and covers the central process. However, some stages are incomplete or inaccurately described: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, then clouds forming before rain falls, whereas you say cooling “create[s] watervapors” and do not clearly report cloud formation. The explanation that the wind “drops it temperature” on the leeward side also misrepresents the diagram, which shows dry air continuing over the mountain. The final claim that lack of moisture causes reduced rainfall and desert formation is a reasonable implication, but the process would be clearer with more precise reporting of the labelled stages and the windward/leeward contrast.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the process from the coast and then beyond the mountain. This gives the reader a basic sense of sequence. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the opening overview and the next paragraph both explain winds moving from the sea and rising over the mountains. Some links are awkward or unclear, such as “Which drops in the form of rainfall,” which is a fragment and leaves the reference uncertain. “In a subsequent stage” signals a transition, but the relationship between the stages could be made more direct. Organise the account once in chronological order, using clear links such as “as a result” and “on the leeward side,” and avoid repeating the same stages.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “inland areas,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” and “rainfall,” and these terms help communicate the topic. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “consists of seven stages.” However, several word choices or forms are inaccurate and sometimes obscure the intended meaning: “rain shahdow” is misspelled, “watervapors” is not the appropriate term for the diagram’s clouds, and “Taking a brief overlook” is an unnatural expression. “Wind blows” is repeated, limiting variety. Choose precise process terms such as “moist air,” “clouds form,” and “precipitates,” and check spelling and collocations. This would make the description clearer while retaining the relevant vocabulary you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex structures, including sequencing clauses with “As air rises gradually” and “In a subsequent stage.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence formation and verb forms sometimes make the process difficult to follow. For example, “Wind blows from sea side and pushed to the top” shifts from present tense to a past participle without a clear grammatical subject, while “the temperature of the wind falls and create” has faulty agreement. “Which drops in the form of rainfall” is an incomplete sentence, and “Wind passes over mountain and drops it temperature lead to a dry air” contains several connected grammatical problems. Use the present simple consistently for process descriptions, ensure each clause has a subject and finite verb, and check articles and agreement.

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