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 daigram illustrate that how one type of desert called as rain- shaddow desert is formed

In the given picture we saw seven main steps how wind goes upward and became cool enough to converts into cloud and after that rain falls , dry air remain on the mountain and found Inland area from rain shaddow desert

wind came from sea toward land and wind hit mountain it cannot go straight mountain push it up this wind is full of water and air becom cold enogh to make cloud rain fall on the side of mountain called windward side after rain all water dry it goes over the mountain top and this dry wind goes down to land to the other side no rain there so that land become dry and form rain-shaddow desert

this is how the land convert into rain-shaddow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as the formation of a rain-shadow desert and include several key stages: winds arrive from the sea, rise over the mountains, cool, produce clouds and rain, then continue inland as dry air. However, the account is only partly complete and some details are unclear. For example, “after rain all water dry” does not clearly explain that moisture is lost on the windward side, while the dry air then descends on the leeward side and reaches inland areas. The overview is brief and does not clearly summarise the contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry inland rain-shadow. The response is also 7 words below the required minimum. Add a clearer overview and explain the stages more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows the broad order of the diagram, moving from winds approaching the coast to the formation of the desert inland. This gives the reader a basic sense of the process. However, the information is presented in three largely unstructured blocks, with little clear paragraphing or signposting. The long middle sentence joins many stages with “and” and “after,” so the relationships between them are sometimes difficult to follow. The opening summary also repeats information that appears in the process description. Use a separate overview and organise the stages into a clearly sequenced paragraph, with accurate links such as “as a result” and “subsequently,” rather than relying on repeated conjunctions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “mountain,” “cloud,” “rain,” and “Inland,” and the reader can generally identify the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning less clear. For instance, “wind is full of water” is imprecise for moisture-laden air, and “rain shaddow desert” is repeatedly misspelled. “The land convert into” is also an awkward expression for describing desert formation. Aim for more precise terms such as “moist air,” “precipitation,” “leeward side,” and “forms,” and check spelling and collocations carefully. This would make the description more accurate and easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts to describe a sequence using clauses linked by “when,” “after,” and “so,” but most sentences are long and contain frequent grammatical errors. Examples include “the diagram illustrate,” “wind hit mountain,” and “this wind … became cool,” where agreement, articles, or verb forms are not controlled. The sentence beginning “wind came from sea” runs through several stages without reliable punctuation, making the structure difficult to follow. There is also little variety beyond simple clauses joined together. Build shorter, complete sentences and practise accurate present-simple passive forms, for example, “The air is pushed upwards” and “Rain falls on the windward side.” Check articles and subject–verb agreement in each sentence.

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