Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-07

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)

This diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert, it is one type of desert.

Overall, Wind is coming in contact with sea it pushes upwards than the clouds are formed above the mountains on the windward side. After this, rain falls starts and the last process of rain-shadow desert starts.

At the beginning of the process, warm, moist air is carried inland from the ocean by help of wind. As the air pushes upwards at mountain range, it is forced to rise. During its rise, the air cools, leading to the formation of clouds and heavy rainfall on the windward side of the mountain.

After reaches to the mountain peak, the air begin to move along the leeward side of the mountain. As it moves downwards the air became dry over mountain due to compression, Since most of the moisture has already been released on the opposite side, little or no rainfall occurs. As a result, dry wind reaches inland areas and winds moves downwards, eventually forming a rain-shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the moist air moving inland to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the overview is somewhat weak and repetitive, as it essentially restates the process rather than highlighting the key contrast between the windward and leeward sides. While the main features are identified, the description lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the transition between the windward and leeward sides is described, but the causal link between the mountain barrier and the resulting climate could be more clearly articulated to demonstrate a better grasp of the scientific process shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the process stages. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'After this, rain falls starts and the last process of rain-shadow desert starts.' The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the lack of sophisticated linking words makes the text feel somewhat disjointed in places. Improving the variety of transition signals would help the response achieve a more natural flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'compression'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward phrasing, such as 'by help of wind' instead of 'carried by the wind' and 'rain falls starts'. The range is somewhat limited, and the repetition of basic verbs like 'pushes' and 'moves' prevents the response from demonstrating a more sophisticated lexical range. To improve, focus on using more precise scientific terminology and varied collocations related to weather and geography.

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 occasionally impede the reader's flow. Examples include 'Wind is coming in contact with sea it pushes upwards than the clouds are formed' (run-on sentence and incorrect conjunction usage) and 'After reaches to the mountain peak' (missing subject). There are also issues with article usage and verb tense consistency. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors indicates a need for more careful proofreading and a better command of complex sentence construction.

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

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