Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-13

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 process of forming the rain shadow desert.

overall,this process begins with the winds approaching the coast and ends with the dry winds reach insland areas.

this occurs on the both sides of the mountain.these process include the clouds formation, falling of rain and contunation of the dry air over the mountains.

firstly, the winds approach the mountains on the surface of sea and the wind is pushed upwards towars the tip of mountain. the wind reaches the half of the mountain where it transformed to moist air followed by clouds formation.these clouds becomes more dark and starts raining at the peak of the mountain. these stages are processed on windward side of the mountain.

secondly, fallowed raining the dry air continues over flowing through the leeward side of the mountain and reaches the inland area as a results of dry wind.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process and give its main direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and you distinguish the windward and leeward sides. However, the account is only partly complete: it does not clearly explain that moist air rises and cools before clouds form, and it says the wind becomes moist halfway up the mountain, which is not stated in the diagram. The overview also describes the process as occurring on “both sides” without clearly summarising the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. The response is 145 words, below the required 150. Add a little more accurate detail about cooling, cloud formation and the rain-shadow desert to cover the stages more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic sequence, using “firstly” for the windward stages and “secondly” for what happens after rain, so the reader can follow the broad process. The opening overview also signals the start and end points. However, progression is not consistently clear: “this occurs on the both sides” is vague, and the transition from rising air to cloud formation and rainfall is compressed into one long sentence. Some linking is mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “these” and the sequence markers. Organise the description into a clear overview followed by stages on the windward side and then the leeward side, and use precise references such as “the air” or “this moisture” to make connections clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds formation” and “dry air,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. The range is nevertheless limited, and several word-choice, word-form and spelling errors make parts less clear, such as “contunation,” “insland,” “fallowed raining” and “as a results of dry wind.” Some phrases are also unnatural, including “the wind is pushed upwards” and “these clouds becomes more dark.” Use accurate process collocations and vary verbs for stages, for example “rises,” “cools,” “condenses” and “continues.” Proofreading spelling and choosing natural forms such as “cloud formation” would make the description more precise and easier to read.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence with “followed by” and a sentence beginning “where,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in agreement and verb forms: “these clouds becomes” should be “these clouds become,” while “the wind reaches … where it transformed” shifts tense and has an unclear reference. Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in “on the both sides of the mountain” and “the wind is pushed upwards towars the tip.” Punctuation and spacing are uneven, especially after “overall” and around the sentence describing cloud formation. These errors sometimes make relationships between stages difficult to follow. Build accuracy with clear present-simple sentences, then add subordinate clauses only when their subject and verb remain clear.

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