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 diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow deserts. Overall, process consists of seven steps.

Overall, Initiated from winds approaching to coast and reaching as rain-shadow to deserts. This a whole process is done by nature.

Firstly, the process begins with a simple step where wind reaches to coast by passing the sea. Following the process wind is pushed upwards to the coast. Thirdly, the moist air rises and then it cools off. Furthermore, by which clouds are formed in windward side.

Turning to the fifth step, where rain falls on the top of the mountain. Moving on to the sixth step which covers up thousands of kilometres reaching to the leeward side of hill. Here the dry air continues coming over the mountain. Finally, in the last stage dry wind reaches inland areas. Also known as the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement. While the student identifies the main stages of the process, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the scientific phenomenon. The summary is brief and does not adequately compare the windward and leeward sides of the mountain. To improve, the student should expand on the physical processes, such as the cooling of air and the specific nature of the moisture loss, to provide a more comprehensive overview of the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Following the process', and 'Turning to', which helps the reader follow the sequence of steps. However, the paragraphing is somewhat disjointed, and some transitions feel mechanical. The overall progression of ideas is logical, but the lack of depth makes the flow feel repetitive. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that sentences are connected more fluidly rather than simply listing steps in a rigid, step-by-step manner.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is functional but limited. The student relies on basic terms like 'simple step', 'process', and 'dry air'. There is little attempt to use more precise, academic vocabulary related to geography or meteorology, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', or 'arid'. The repetition of 'step' throughout the text indicates a restricted range. To improve, the student should incorporate more topic-specific terminology and avoid repetitive phrasing, aiming for a more sophisticated academic tone that accurately describes the scientific process shown in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect clarity, such as 'Overall, process consists' (missing article) and 'winds approaching to coast' (incorrect preposition). The sentence structures are predominantly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity, such as 'Furthermore, by which clouds are formed'. There is a lack of variety in sentence construction, which limits the ability to express complex relationships between the stages of the process. Improving control over articles, prepositions, and complex sentence structures is essential for achieving a higher score.

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

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