Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03
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 presents the steps of how one type of desert known as rain-shadow desert is formed.
From the broader overview, it can be seen that water is collected by the clouds, and then it rains on the mountains. In contrast, mountains act as a barrier that stops rain to fall on the deserts. This process covers thousands of kilometers to complete and a combination of sea, mountain, and inland areas.
On the one side of the mountain, the wind starts approaching the coast via a sea. Once it reaches the coast, it moves upwards. While going upwards towards the sky, wind also carries moisture in the air, it rises and cools at high altitude. As soon as it cools down, cloud formation takes place through which it rains.
Furthermore, the rain falls over the mountain and makes the island green. On the other side, dry air continues to flow over the mountain towards the leeward side. However, this air contains a greater amount of humidity. This air reaches the inland areas, which are the bare lands. This makes the land warm, creating the rain shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly outlined the movement of air from the sea, the cooling effect over the mountain, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. However, there are some inaccuracies in your description; for instance, you mention that the air on the leeward side contains a 'greater amount of humidity,' which contradicts the scientific concept of a rain shadow where the air is notably dry. Additionally, the term 'island' is used to describe the windward side, which is not supported by the diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure your interpretation of the visual data is precise and scientifically consistent with the provided information.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, moving from an overview to the specific stages of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore,' 'In contrast,' and 'As soon as' to connect ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the use of 'it' in 'through which it rains,' where the antecedent is ambiguous. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, but the logical flow is occasionally hindered by the factual inconsistencies mentioned in the task achievement section, which makes the overall explanation slightly confusing for the reader.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'leeward side,' 'moisture,' 'altitude,' and 'humidity.' There are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'makes the island green' and 'bare lands,' which do not accurately reflect the geographical features shown. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main points, it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more specific terminology related to meteorology and geography, and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'While going upwards towards the sky, wind also carries moisture in the air.' There are several grammatical slips, including 'stops rain to fall' (should be 'stops rain from falling') and 'the steps of how' (should be 'the steps of how a... is formed'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional usage will help improve your accuracy.
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