Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-11

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 given figure illustrates that how one type of desert, know as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the formation of rain-shadow consist of several steps. Winds goes from sea and clouds are formed and after formation of clouds rain falls. Then dry air continues from leeward side to the inland. Distance between coast and inland areas is consist of thousands of kilometers.

Firstly, winds approach coast from the sea. At the second step, winds are pushed upward to the mountains. At the third step, moist air rises and cools to the Windward side of mountain. At the fourth step clouds are formed. At the fifth step rain falls from the clouds on the top of the mountains. At the sixth step, dry air continues over mountains to the Leeward side of mountain. At the seventh and final step dry winds reach inland areas. This is how rain-shadow deserts are formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the description is overly simplistic and relies on a repetitive, list-like structure ('At the first step', 'At the second step', etc.). This mechanical approach prevents a more sophisticated synthesis of the information. While the main features are present, the lack of analytical grouping or comparison between the windward and leeward sides limits the development of the response. To improve, you should group related stages together rather than listing them sequentially, and focus on describing the process as a whole rather than just counting steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized in a chronological sequence, which is appropriate for a process diagram. However, the use of cohesive devices is very mechanical and repetitive. The reliance on 'At the first step', 'At the second step', etc., makes the flow feel unnatural and simplistic. While paragraphing is present, the transitions between sentences are basic. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases (e.g., 'subsequently', 'as a result', 'consequently') and vary the sentence structure to improve the overall flow and readability of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You use terms like 'winds', 'clouds', and 'mountains' repeatedly without much variation. There is an attempt to use specific terminology like 'leeward' and 'windward', which is good, but the overall range is limited. Some phrasing is slightly awkward, such as 'dry air continues from leeward side'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to meteorological processes and ensure that your word choices are varied to avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the quality of the writing. Examples include 'illustrates that how' (incorrect structure), 'know as' (should be 'known as'), 'winds goes' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'is consist of' (incorrect verb form). The sentence structures are mostly simple, with little evidence of complex sentence forms. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors and the lack of structural variety limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and using more complex sentence structures would significantly improve your performance.

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