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 depicted diagram illustrates the process of formation of rain shadow deserts from the sea to the inland areas while passing through mountains covering miles.

The moist wind wind starts from the sea area besides the mountains approaching the coastal regions and becomes dry when it reaches the inland areas. The wind is moister in the lower region of the mountain as compared to the upper region of the mountain. The moist air rises over the windward side and lowers it's temperature. clouds are formed from this and it begin to rain. On the other hand, over the Leeward side , at the atmospheric level, dry air flows in continous manner. The dry air approaches the inland areas and forms rain-shadow desert.

This process shows how Rain shadow deserts are formed in the Dry inland areas from the wind coming from sea side skipping the mountains and reaching it's destination.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall process and include several key stages: moist air rises on the windward side, cools, clouds form, rain falls, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. This gives the reader a relevant account of the diagram. However, some important details are unclear or inaccurate: the wind is not described as being pushed upwards by the mountains, and the claim that it is moister in the lower part of the mountain is not shown. The final description that the wind “skips the mountains” also conflicts with the process, since it rises over them. To strengthen the response, give a clearer overview of the contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side, then report the stages in sequence without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response follows the broad movement from the sea, across the mountains, and towards inland areas, and phrases such as “On the other hand” help signal a contrast. The stages are mostly presented in a sensible order. However, the organisation is limited: the opening sentence is difficult to follow, and the final sentence repeats the main idea rather than adding a clear concluding overview. Connections between stages are sometimes abrupt, as in “clouds are formed from this and it begin to rain.” Use a clearer sequence of steps and more precise references to the air and wind. Separating the overview from the detailed process would also make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “windward side,” “Leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the subject. There is some variety in how you describe movement, such as “approaching” and “flows.” However, several word choices and collocations are awkward or imprecise, including “covering miles,” “at the atmospheric level,” and “skipping the mountains.” “The wind is moister” is also an unnatural way to describe the air. Spelling errors such as “continous” and inconsistent capitalisation reduce accuracy. Aim for standard process language—for example, air is forced upwards, cools, and releases precipitation—and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including the sequence “The moist air rises over the windward side and lowers it's temperature. clouds are formed from this and it begin to rain.” This shows an effort to link stages, but errors in sentence boundaries, agreement, and verb forms make parts less clear. For example, “it begin” should be “it begins,” and “clouds” should start with a capital letter after a full stop. The apostrophe in “it's temperature” is incorrect because the possessive form is “its.” The opening also contains a repeated subject in “The moist wind wind starts.” Practise accurate sentence construction and punctuation, especially when joining cause-and-effect stages.

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.