Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-08

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 depicts a seven-stage natural process showing how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, There are seven- stages natural process liner sequences most begin winds approach coast end the ending dry winds reach inland areas rain-shadow desert.

To begin with, there sevral natural place. first stage Winds from the sea reach the coastal area. that air started different process. that air increase in uper lyer of mountain than that winds rise and coold. Follwing by, thtat winds made coulds from in mountain. As result, there coluds rain falls and agin start many process.

Secondlly, dry air continues over mountain and fall up to leeward side. In the next stage, the dry air passes over the top of the mountains and moves down the other side. Then, as the air goes down, it becomes warm and loses any remaining moisture. Finally, this warm, dry air moves across the land, creating a dry rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and include its main sequence: winds arrive from the sea, rise and cool, clouds form, rain falls, and dry air moves inland to create a desert. However, the overview is difficult to understand, and some stages are repeated or described unclearly. For example, “dry air continues over mountain” and the later account of air passing over the mountains overlap, while the diagram does not show air “fall[ing]” as a separate stage. The explanation that descending air warms and loses remaining moisture adds detail not explicitly labelled in the visual. The response is also 148 words, below the required 150-word minimum. Develop the stages accurately and clearly, and ensure the response meets the stated length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is an attempt to organise the response with an opening, an overview, and sequencing expressions such as “To begin with,” “Secondly,” and “Finally.” The broad movement from the coast towards the inland desert is also recognisable. However, progression is weakened by the unclear overview (“seven- stages natural process liner sequences”) and by repetition: the movement of dry air over the mountain is described twice. Some links do not clearly show the relationship between stages, as in “As result, there clouds rain falls and again start many process.” Use one clear paragraph for the overview and a logically ordered paragraph for the stages, with each connector marking a distinct step and clear references to the air.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “coastal area,” “mountain,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and it attempts to describe changes in the air. However, spelling errors and imprecise or unnatural combinations are noticeable, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow: “sevral,” “uper lyer,” “made coulds,” and “fall up to leeward side.” The repeated use of “air” and “process” also limits precision. Build a more reliable set of terms for the diagram, such as “windward side,” “precipitation,” and “descend,” and check spelling and collocations. More accurate wording would help communicate the stages without relying on vague phrases such as “different process.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence with “as” and a final clause beginning “creating.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in sentence formation and verb forms often make the process hard to follow. For example, “that air started different process” lacks clear grammatical structure, while “winds rise and coold” shifts awkwardly between present and past forms. The overview also contains an incomplete construction: “There are seven- stages natural process liner sequences.” Punctuation and capitalisation are inconsistent, particularly after full stops. Use the present simple consistently for a process, form complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries.

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.