Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

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 process diagram depicts how single type of desert, known as rain-shadow desert, is formed.

In an overview, it is a linear process. It starts, when winds approach to coast and end when dry winds reach inland areas. It has seven number of steps. Dry wind reaches Inland areas and formed a rain-shadow desert. There is a thousands of kilometers.

From sea, wind approaches coast and it's a point where whole cycle begins. In the next step, winds pushed upwards due to pressure. After that, moist air rises upward and starts getting cooled at windward side. Subsequently, after these steps, formation of clouds begins.

Afterwards, these steps leads to rain fall. When rain fall stops, dry air starts continuing over mountain at leeward side, Finally, dry wind reaches Inland areas, where rain-shadow desert had been formed and cycle ends there. This the whole process how rain shadow deserts are formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and give its overall direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. You also report the key sequence of rising, cooling air, cloud formation, rainfall and dry air crossing the mountain. However, some important details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows winds being pushed upwards by the mountains, not “due to pressure,” and the desert is shown inland in the rain shadow rather than explicitly being formed at the point where the winds arrive. The overview also mentions seven steps without explaining the central contrast between the rainy windward side and dry leeward side. A more precise overview and clearer explanation of how rainfall creates dry conditions inland would make the summary more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally clear sequence, and paragraphing separates the overview from the stage-by-stage account. Connectors such as “In the next step,” “After that,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. However, the progression is sometimes mechanical, with several transitions repeating the same step-by-step function. Some references are also unclear: “after these steps” does not specify which stages are meant, and “When rain fall stops” suggests a separate stopping point that the diagram does not show. The overview repeats information later rather than highlighting the main relationship between the windward and leeward sides. Grouping related stages and using clearer references would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “formation of clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which makes the topic understandable. There is also some useful variation in verbs such as “approach,” “rises,” “cooled,” and “continues.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, including “single type of desert,” “a point where whole cycle begins,” and “dry wind reaches Inland areas and formed.” Repetition of “steps” and “process” also limits the range. Choose more precise collocations for describing causes and stages, and use consistent terms such as “dry air” or “dry winds” where appropriate. These improvements would make the description more natural and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple sentences and longer sequences, and the reader can usually understand the process. However, errors occur across several sentence patterns and sometimes make relationships unclear. For example, “It starts, when winds approach to coast and end” has incorrect punctuation and an inconsistent verb structure; “This the whole process” is missing a verb; and “these steps leads” has subject–verb disagreement. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent in phrases such as “single type” and “a thousands.” Some complex constructions, including “When rain fall stops,” are not controlled accurately. Practise forming complete clauses, maintaining agreement and tense, and checking articles and punctuation. More accurate control of these basics would make your sequence easier to follow.

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