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 diagrams illustrate the step by step process by which a rain-shadow desert forms on the leeward side of the mountain range, a moist air from the sea intercepted and deplected of moisture.

Overall, the formation into seven stages, winds pushed upwards sea to mountain than rain fall on the windward side , and drying of the air opposite site creating rain shadow desert.

Initially, winds carrying moisture, pushed upwards to the mountains, then moist air rise and temperature cools and clouds form, and rain fall on the windward side of the mountains, then air drying countines opposite sides over the mountain on the leeward side. Dry winds reach inland areas forming the a rain shadow desert, located thousand of kilometers from the coast. Finally, these dry winds travel inland over thousands of kilometers. Since there is very little rain in this aera, the land becomes dry and a rain-shadow desert is formed on the leeward side of the mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main process and give an overview: moist winds rise over the mountains, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air reaches the inland rain-shadow desert. These points match the diagram, and you also identify the desert’s position on the leeward side. However, some stages are less clearly reported. For example, the overview compresses the sequence, while the body does not clearly explain that rising air cools before clouds form. The statement that the desert is “thousand of kilometers from the coast” is broadly linked to the diagram’s scale, but the diagram indicates a horizontal distance of thousands of kilometres rather than a precise location. A more complete, clearly ordered account of each stage would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable introduction, overview and process description, and the reader can follow the broad movement from the sea towards inland areas. Sequencing words such as “Initially,” “then” and “Finally” help signal order. However, progression is weakened by a long, crowded body paragraph that repeats the desert’s formation and inland location. The overview is also difficult to follow because several stages are joined in one sentence with commas, and the phrase “opposite site” does not clearly identify the leeward side. Organise the stages into a more controlled sequence, use paragraphing to separate the overview from the details, and avoid repeating information already stated.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some variety in describing movement and change, such as “pushed upwards” and “travel inland.” However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision: “deplected” and “countines” are unclear, while “drying of the air” is less natural than describing the air as becoming dry. “The formation into seven stages” is also an awkward phrase. Aim for accurate spelling and natural collocations, especially for the key stages, so the reader can understand the process without having to infer your meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “then” and a cause-and-result sentence beginning “Since there is very little rain.” However, control is inconsistent, and several errors make the process harder to read. For example, “a moist air from the sea intercepted” lacks a clear finite verb, and “moist air rise and temperature cools” has problems with verb agreement and sentence structure. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention in “forming the a rain shadow desert” and the comma-linked overview. Practise writing complete clauses with a clear subject and verb, and check agreement, articles and punctuation. More accurate control of these structures would make your sequence easier to follow.

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