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 given diagram illustrates steps of how one type of desert known as a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overrall, the wind from the sea does most of the work from the point it approches the moustains to the point it forms clouds and at the end where the dry wind reaches the inland areas.

Firstly , the wind is pushed upwards after it reaches the mountains and the moist air rises and cools down along the path.Some of which forms clouds but some continue to move.

On the peak of the mountains the rain falls and the water if pushed back towards the sea and the rest remaining dry air continues over the mountains along the leeward side and the dry wind reaches the inland areas and resulted in rain shadow deserts

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process and include several central stages: wind moves towards the mountains, moist air rises and cools, rain falls, and dry air continues inland. However, the account is incomplete and some details are unclear or inaccurate. The diagram shows clouds forming and rain falling on the windward side; it does not show water being pushed back towards the sea, as your response claims. The overview also focuses on the wind’s role rather than clearly summarising the key contrast: moisture is lost on the windward side, leaving dry air to create a desert inland on the leeward side. The response is 120 words, below the required 150, so the process is not sufficiently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a broadly chronological order, and “Firstly” helps signal the start of the process. However, the response has no clear paragraph structure beyond a brief overview followed by one long body paragraph, and the progression becomes difficult to follow in the final sentence, where several stages are joined together. Connections such as “Some of which” and “but some continue to move” do not make clear what is forming clouds or what continues moving. Use separate sentences or paragraphs for the windward and leeward stages, and make each link explicit—for example, explain that after rain falls, the remaining dry air crosses the mountain and reaches inland areas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “rises and cools,” “peak,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the topic. However, the range is limited and some choices are imprecise or awkward: “does most of the work” is informal and vague, while “the water is pushed back towards the sea” does not accurately describe the diagram. Spelling errors such as “Overrall,” “approches,” and “moustains” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process language and check spelling carefully; terms such as “windward side,” “precipitation,” and “rain-shadow desert” can help describe the stages more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “after” and a clause beginning “where the dry wind reaches.” However, complex sentences are often difficult to control, particularly the final sentence, which joins several actions without clear grammatical boundaries. There are also errors in sentence construction and punctuation, such as “Some of which forms clouds,” which is a fragment, and “and resulted in rain shadow deserts,” where the verb form does not fit the sentence. Missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent comma spacing also affect readability. Use shorter, complete sentences to describe each stage, then check verb forms and punctuation.

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