Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-10

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 gives information about how one kind of desert, which known familiarly by the rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, rain-shadow passes through 7 steps and thousands of kilometers until it fully produced. At the beginning of the process, winds approach coast and flows through sea whereas dry winds reach inland areas at the end of the cycle.

Initially, winds approach coast and goes through sea by direct way until the winds are pushed upwards against mountains. Once winds pushed upwards, moist in the air rises and cools at the windward side. Then, clouds are formed over the windward section when air rised and cooled.

When clouds are formed, rain falls at the top of the mountain. Afterwards, dry air continues over mountain by the leeward side. After that, dry winds reach inland areas after passing through thousands of kilometers which let to rain-shadow desert at the end of process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and cover its main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, with rain falling on the mountain’s windward side. This gives the reader a generally relevant account. However, the overview is unclear and includes a misinterpretation: “rain-shadow passes through 7 steps and thousands of kilometers” suggests the desert itself moves through the stages, whereas the diagram shows air moving across the landscape and the desert forming inland. Some details are also imprecise, such as saying winds “goes through sea” and that rain falls “at the top” of the mountain. State clearly that moist air rises, cools and rains on the windward side, leaving dry air to descend or continue inland and create the rain-shadow desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overall statement and a chronological description. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Once,” “Then” and “Afterwards” help the reader follow the stages. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, with several sentences beginning by repeating the previous event (“When clouds are formed” and “After that”). Some links are inaccurate or unclear: “which let to rain-shadow desert” does not clearly explain the relationship between the dry winds and the desert, and “thousands of kilometers” is inserted without a clear connection to the process. Organise the stages into a more direct cause-and-effect account, and use references such as “this dry air” to avoid repetition while keeping each link precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist,” “cools,” “clouds,” “rain falls,” “dry air,” and “windward” and “leeward.” This gives you a basic range for describing the diagram, and the main stages remain understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “known familiarly by” is not a natural way to name the desert, “rain-shadow passes through” misrepresents what moves through the stages, and “by direct way” is unclear. “Flows through sea” also does not accurately describe winds approaching from the sea. Aim for precise process language such as “is known as,” “air rises over the mountains,” and “dry air moves inland.” Check word forms and spelling, including “kilometres” and “rose.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, using time clauses such as “Once winds pushed upwards” and “When clouds are formed.” However, errors occur frequently in basic sentence patterns and verb forms, which sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “which known familiarly” is missing a verb, while “winds approach coast and flows” has subject–verb disagreement and missing articles. “Once winds pushed upwards” also needs a passive form or a clear subject, and “air rised and cooled” uses an incorrect past-tense form. The final clause, “which let to rain-shadow desert,” is grammatically incomplete. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, especially passive forms, agreement, articles and complete cause-and-effect clauses.

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