Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

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 how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the formation of this desert is a natural process. The process includes seven steps beginning with the production of warm and moist winds and ending with dry wind reaching inland areas.

The process is carried out at a coastal area. First of all, warm and moist winds are produced from the ocean or sea. Subsequently, winds are pushed upward against the force of gravity. Once winds reaching at the top, they becomes more cooler. After that, winds is converted into clouds then they cause rainfall in the windward side. The windward side has a cool atmosphere.

However, the process is moved to leeward side now. In this side, dry air travels to thousands of kilometers and many mountains and they continue travel downward and reach inland areas where the atmosphere is completely dry. At the last, dry wind makes a rain-shadow desert by reaching inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages from the moist air rising to the creation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the contrast between the windward and leeward sides. While the stages are identified, the explanation of the physical mechanisms—such as the cooling of air leading to condensation—is slightly underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information more effectively rather than simply listing the steps, ensuring that the comparison between the two sides of the mountain is more explicitly highlighted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from the initial process to the final outcome. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Subsequently', and 'However' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'In this side, dry air travels to thousands of kilometers'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to their intended nouns.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'coastal area', 'windward side', and 'leeward side' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'winds are produced' and 'the process is moved'. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'becomes more cooler' (which is a double comparative error). To improve, try to incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive vocabulary related to meteorological processes, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions', to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('winds is converted', 'winds becomes'), incorrect preposition usage ('reaching at the top'), and awkward passive voice constructions. While the meaning remains clear, these persistent errors prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on consistent verb tense usage and refining the accuracy of complex sentence structures will significantly improve your score.

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

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