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 diagrom outlines the stages of desert formation. There are seven steps of the desert formation its called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is a linear and natural process. It starts from winds approach coast and ends with dry reach inland areas.

Initially, water is store in a sea thousands of kilometres away from the rain-shadow desert. Winds come approach coast and than pushe upwords this water. Consequently, the mosit air rises and cools. Next, these winds make clouds. This is a stage where the main process starts.

After some time, the rain falls on mountains from clouds. Snowfall covers all mountains, but dry air continues over mountains. After sum time air flows this snowfall toleeward side. Snow starts melting at this point and become in the form of water. In the last steo, this water flows toword the inland areas and dry winds reach in land areas. These areas are called rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a rain-shadow desert process and give a broad sequence from coastal winds to inland dry conditions. However, several central stages are misreported or added without support. The diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, clouds forming, and rain falling on the windward side; it does not show water being pushed up, snowfall covering the mountains, snow melting, or water flowing inland. The overview also says the process ends with “dry reach inland areas,” rather than clearly explaining that dry winds pass over the leeward side and create a desert inland. To strengthen the report, describe the mountain’s role and distinguish the wet windward side from the dry leeward side, while avoiding invented stages.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with paragraphs separating the summary from the details. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Consequently,” “Next,” and “In the last step” help the reader follow the intended process. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, and the progression becomes confusing when the account shifts from rain to snowfall, melting snow, and water flowing inland. “This is a stage where the main process starts” interrupts the sequence without adding a clear connection. Use transitions to show cause and effect more precisely, and keep each paragraph focused on the diagram’s actual stages so that the sequence remains coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain,” “mountains,” and “inland areas,” which makes the general topic recognisable. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “rain-shadow desert” and “leeward side.” However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable: “diagrom,” “mosit,” “steo,” and “toleeward” reduce accuracy, while phrases such as “winds come approach coast” and “dry reach inland areas” are not natural or clear. Some vocabulary also introduces unsupported details, particularly “snowfall” and “melting.” Build a more accurate process vocabulary and check spelling and collocations before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the use of sequencing clauses shows some effort to vary sentence structure. Nevertheless, errors in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make parts of the process difficult to follow. For example, “water is store in a sea” needs a correct passive form, while “There are seven steps of the desert formation its called” joins two ideas without appropriate punctuation or structure. “Winds come approach coast” and “Snow starts melting … and become” also show problems with verb patterns and agreement. Practise accurate passive constructions for processes and use shorter, complete sentences when describing each stage; this will make your meaning clearer while retaining some structural variety.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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