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 pocesss diagrams illustrates the formation of a cirtain type of desert, which is known as a Rain-shadow desert.

Overall, there are seven initial steps to fully formed a Rain-shadow desert. It start with wind appoact coast afterward shapping clouds and ends with dry winds reach inland areas.

The process starts with wind crossinf through seas and pushed upwards toward the mountain. The air then mosit by drecreasing the temperature and cools itselfs. The follonig steps is it shaped as a cloud form and after several coulds came together forms a rain fall in the top of the mountain.

the following dry air continues and goes through mountain, while passing thourg the Leeward side . Finally the wind reached the inland areas and formed a Rain- shadow desert. In addintion the air passes thousands kilom

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a rain-shadow desert process and give a broad sequence from coastal winds to dry inland conditions. The overview also recognises that the process has seven stages, and you mention the key contrast between rain on the mountain and dry air continuing inland. However, several stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, clouds forming, and rain falling on the windward side, rather than “several clouds” coming together. The final point about the thousands-of-kilometres scale is left unfinished. The response is also 15 words below the required minimum, which limits the detail available. To strengthen coverage, describe the windward-to-leeward movement and complete the scale detail in a full-length response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “The process starts,” “The following steps,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the general order. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and incomplete phrasing. For example, “The air then mosit by drecreasing the temperature” does not clearly connect the rising air to cooling, while “the following dry air continues” begins a new stage awkwardly. The final sentence stops at “thousands kilom,” leaving the ending incomplete. Use one clear sentence for each connected group of stages, and make references such as “it” or “the air” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “formation,” “coast,” “mountain,” “Leeward side,” “inland areas,” and “Rain-shadow desert.” These terms show awareness of the diagram’s subject. However, the range is limited and many spelling and word-choice errors make parts difficult to understand, including “pocesss,” “cirtain,” “appoact,” “shapping,” and “follonig.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise: “wind crossinf through seas” and “formed a Rain-shadow desert” do not describe the stages clearly. Aim to use accurate process terms consistently, such as “winds approach the coast,” “moist air rises,” and “dry air moves inland.” Proofreading spelling would make your meaning much easier to follow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, and the response includes sequencing clauses such as “while passing through the Leeward side.” However, grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. Examples include “It start” instead of “It starts,” “seven initial steps to fully formed” instead of “seven stages to form,” and “the wind reached” where the present simple is needed for a process description. Subject–verb agreement and sentence construction are also problematic in “The follonig steps is it shaped as a cloud form.” Several clauses lack a clear grammatical structure, and the final sentence is incomplete. Practise describing processes in the present simple, checking subject–verb agreement, and building complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.