Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-12

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 diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert. Overall, it seems a continuous lenghty process as the formation of this desert is a geographocal phenomenon. The dry air coming from the peak of the mountains can be considered as the major reason to form this rain-shadow desert.

Initially,apart thousand kilometers of the rain shadow dersert there is a sea across the mountains where heavy winds approch the coast. The winds starts to push in the upward direction of the mountains and in third stage the moist air starts to increase and they simultaneously cools to form clouds in the upper region of the moutains. From the moist clouds rain starts to fall on the peak of the moutains.

After the rain falls, dry air continues to flow over the mountain until it reach the Leeweard side of the mountain. After that, dry air converts into dry winds in the last stage when it finally reach the inland areas which is called rain shadow desert now.This is how a rainshadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages and gives an overview identifying dry air from the mountains as central to desert formation. It accurately describes winds approaching the coast, rising moist air, cloud formation and rainfall, followed by dry air crossing the mountain and reaching inland areas. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: “apart thousand kilometers of the rain shadow desert” does not clearly explain the diagram’s horizontal scale, and the account does not clearly distinguish the windward and leeward sides or explain that the desert lies beyond the leeward side. The overview also calls the process “lengthy” without explaining the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. A more precise overview and clearer location descriptions would develop the relevant features more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by stages in sequence, with “Initially,” “After the rain falls,” and “After that” guiding the reader through the process. This gives the account an overall logical progression. However, some connections and references are awkward or unclear, particularly “apart thousand kilometers of the rain shadow desert,” which makes the opening stage difficult to follow. The final sentence repeats the idea that the desert is formed rather than adding a clear concluding feature. Paragraphing is present, but the stages could be grouped and linked more smoothly, with clearer references to the windward side, mountain, and inland area. More precise sequencing language would make cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “coast,” “peak,” “dry winds,” and “inland areas,” so the reader can identify the main subject and stages. It also attempts more specific terms such as “geographical phenomenon” and “leeward side.” However, spelling errors and inaccurate word choices are noticeable, including “lenghty,” “geographocal,” “dersert,” “approch,” and “Leeweard.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “the winds starts to push in the upward direction” and “dry air converts into dry winds.” Use standard forms and more accurate collocations, such as “winds are forced upwards” and “the air becomes drier,” to express the process more clearly and flexibly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to use both simple and complex sentences, including the sequence “After the rain falls, dry air continues to flow over the mountain until it reach the Leeweard side.” The stages are generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make relationships unclear. Examples include subject–verb agreement in “The winds starts” and “until it reach,” and the mismatch in “the moist air starts to increase and they simultaneously cools.” Articles and sentence construction also need attention, as in “formation of rain-shadow desert” and “From the moist clouds rain starts to fall.” Review agreement, pronoun reference, and article use, and punctuate sentence openings consistently. More controlled complex sentences would improve accuracy while preserving the useful range of structures attempted.

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