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 shows how one type of desert, known as a rain shadow desert, is formed. Marking a thousand of kilometers from coast to the rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the diagram locates six different phases that the rain-shadow desert goes through to be formed. It starts with approaching of the winds above the sea, and ends with dry winds reaching the inland areas. The mountain has two parts, the windward side, and the leeward side at the opposite.

As the winds approach coast above the sea, the winds start to be pushed upwards. The windward side will experience two stages, the first is the rising and cooling of the moist air, the second will be the formation of the cloud. At the top of the mountain, the rain falls.

At the leeward side, a dry air continues over the mountain, and then it reaches the inland areas marking the last stage among them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process and give a basic overview, including its start with winds approaching and its end with dry winds reaching inland. You also mention the windward and leeward sides and describe the main sequence of rising air, cloud formation, rain, and dry air crossing the mountain. However, the response is under the required 150 words, and the overview says there are “six different phases” although the diagram shows seven. Some details are also imprecise: the rain-shadow desert is the inland outcome, not simply the final stage, and the “thousands of kilometres” label indicates the horizontal scale rather than a distance specifically from coast to desert. Develop the stages and their cause-and-effect relationship more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the windward and leeward sides. The sequence is generally easy to follow, with phrases such as “As the winds approach” and “At the leeward side” helping to guide the reader through the process. However, progression is somewhat mechanical, and the overview’s claim of six phases conflicts with the stages described later. Connections between stages could be clearer; for example, explain that rain removes moisture before the air crosses the mountain and reaches inland. The opening sentence about the scale also feels detached from the process description. A more integrated overview and clearer links between cause and result would strengthen the organisation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” so the reader can understand the main subject. However, the range is limited and some word combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “Marking a thousand of kilometers” and “the desert goes through to be formed.” “Formation of the cloud” is understandable, but “clouds form” would match the diagram more naturally. There is also some repetition of “winds” and “stage.” Aim for more precise process language and natural collocations, while retaining the useful geographical terms you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including the sequence “As the winds approach coast … the winds start to be pushed upwards.” The main stages remain understandable, but grammatical errors are frequent enough to make some sentences awkward. Examples include the fragment “Marking a thousand of kilometers…,” the missing article in “approach coast,” and the unnatural construction “the desert goes through to be formed.” In “the first is the rising and cooling … the second will be the formation,” the parallel structure and tense are not well controlled. Review articles, sentence completeness, and consistent present-tense descriptions of processes. More accurate sentence patterns would make the sequence clearer.

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