Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05

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 following picture describes the formation of a desert which is called rain-shadow desert. The diagram basicaly explains the steps involve in the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall,it can be seen from the picture that these involove distinct seven steps in formation starting from Sea to going on the highest point at Mountains and finally at the Inland areas.

Initially, it is cleared that the first step starts from Sea in which winds is approached to the coast. Here on coast wind is further pushed upwards. In the proceeding step the moist air is rose and got cools at Windward side. This followed by the formation of clouds in the fourth step. Moreover, these clouds is caused to rain fall on the top of mountain. The dry air continued to flow over the mountain which led down to the Leeward side. Finally, the dry wind reached at inland areas and the Rain-shadow desert is formed.

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 sea to the inland desert. However, the description is somewhat mechanical, simply listing steps rather than synthesizing the process into a cohesive narrative. While the main features are present, the analysis lacks a clear comparison between the windward and leeward sides, which is a crucial aspect of a rain-shadow desert. The overview is present but could be more analytical by highlighting the contrast between the wet and dry conditions. The response meets the requirements of the task but remains at a descriptive level rather than a fully analytical one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into a logical sequence, moving from the sea to the inland areas. Paragraphing is used, though the body paragraph is quite dense. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'In the proceeding step', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas, but some transitions feel slightly repetitive or mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved to create a more natural progression of information. Overall, the text is easy to follow, but the use of cohesive devices lacks the flexibility required for a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', and 'leeward side' used correctly. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'basicaly' (basically), 'involove' (involve), and 'is approached' (should be active voice). The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. To improve, you should aim for more precise verbs and nouns to describe the atmospheric processes, such as 'precipitate' instead of 'rain fall' or 'ascend' instead of 'pushed upwards'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the accuracy of the writing. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues like 'winds is approached', 'moist air is rose' (should be 'rises'), and 'these clouds is caused'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, such as the missing space after the comma in 'Overall,it'. While the meaning remains clear, the high frequency of errors in basic verb tenses and passive voice constructions prevents the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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