Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-06

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 the formation of rain-shadow desert by wind moving thousands of kilometers.

Overall, it is evident that the process consists of seven stages. Beginning with wind approach from sea, which lead towards uphill to become dry. Furthermore dry air then moves down the land areas.

At first glance, the process initiate from sea-level, where winds approaces to the coastal area. In second step, the wind pushed forward to top of the mountain. When the wind is moving upward in third stage the air became moist and cools and the rises further. Moreover in 4th stage, the cold air converted into cloud form and then rain fall happened in fifth stage of overall process.

after having rain fall, the coolness leave with water droplets and the air become dry. What is more, the dry air continues moving downward over the mountain in sixth stage. While in seventh stage the dry sir reached to land areas, which react with some sediments and then formed enormus amount sand, with the passage of time then transform into rain-shadow destert. In addition this process happened again and again, which lead to severe enivironmental issues like global warming.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and report its main sequence: winds approach from the sea, rise over the mountains, form clouds and produce rain, before dry air moves inland. This gives the reader a relevant overview and several key stages. However, some details are unclear or unsupported. For example, the wind is pushed upwards by the mountain, rather than simply “pushed forward to top,” and the diagram does not show sediments forming sand, repeated cycles, or global warming. The overview also says the wind becomes dry without clearly explaining that rain on the windward side leaves dry air to descend on the leeward side, creating the desert inland. Select only diagram-based information and explain this cause-and-effect relationship more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later stages. Sequencing expressions such as “At first,” “in third stage,” and “in sixth stage” help the reader follow the process. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, and the progression is weakened by the final unsupported claims about sediments and global warming. The sentence beginning “When the wind is moving upward” combines several stages, making the order of cooling, cloud formation, and rainfall harder to follow. Use one clear sentence for each connected group of stages, and make references such as “the air” or “this process” unambiguous. Consistent paragraphing and capitalization would also make the organisation easier to read.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coastal area,” “moist,” “dry air,” “cloud,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and you attempt to vary your wording with phrases such as “continues moving downward.” However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or imprecise, including “wind approach,” “cold air converted into cloud form,” and “react with some sediments.” Spelling errors such as “approaces,” “enivironmental,” and “destert” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms that match the diagram, such as “winds approach the coast,” “moist air cools and condenses,” and “rain falls on the windward side.” Avoid adding vocabulary about processes or effects that the visual does not show.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a time clause beginning “When the wind is moving upward” and a sequence introduced by “After having rain fall.” However, control is limited, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some ideas difficult to follow. For example, “which lead towards uphill” has an unclear clause and incorrect agreement, while “the air became moist and cools” shifts tense within the same description. “In second step” also needs an article, and the sentence beginning “While in seventh stage” is not a complete independent sentence. Use the present simple consistently for a process, check subject–verb agreement, and build complete sentences around each stage.

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