Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10

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 illustration depicts the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the whole desert creation process revolve around a mountain that separates the sea and the inland area by thousands of kilometres. This natural phenomenon starts with the winds approaching to the coastal area and passing through several stages and eventually changing to dry winds.

The winds blows towards the coastal area of the sea flowing towards the peak of the mountain while turning moist due to low temperature. The third and fourth step includes the moist air condensed and forming into clouds near the windward side. These new clouds eventually travels to the tip of the mountain and on the fifth step the rain starts falling.

The sixth and seventh step includes the dry airs continuing from the leeward side of the mountain and reaching the inland area respectively. The final step is when the drier wind reaches the inland area creating rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response provides a clear overview of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You successfully identified the main stages, from the moist air rising over the mountain to the creation of the desert on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on listing the steps (e.g., 'The third and fourth step', 'The sixth and seventh step') rather than synthesizing the information into a more fluid, analytical report. To improve, focus on describing the physical changes in the air and the resulting environmental impact rather than just numbering the steps provided in the diagram. The key features are present, but the development of the explanation could be more sophisticated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'Overall' and 'eventually', to link ideas. However, the transition between sentences is sometimes repetitive, particularly the reliance on 'The [number] step includes/is'. This makes the flow feel a bit mechanical. To reach a higher band, try to vary your sentence starters and use more sophisticated linking words or phrases to show the relationship between the stages, such as 'consequently', 'as a result', or 'subsequently', rather than simply listing steps numerically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'coastal area', 'moist air', 'condensed', and 'leeward side'. This is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'winds approaching to the coastal area' (should be 'approaching the coastal area') and 'winds blows' (subject-verb agreement error). To improve, focus on using more precise scientific terminology and ensuring that your word choices are grammatically sound within the context of the sentence.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'the whole desert creation process revolve' (subject-verb agreement), 'winds blows' (subject-verb agreement), and 'clouds eventually travels' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and prepositions. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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