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 picture represents that how desert is formed and here the specific type given which is called rain-shadow desert.
It is clear from the diagram that the entire process starts with winds approach coast from upper level of the sea and this winds pushed upwards. After reached windward side of mountains, moist air rises and cools and converts form of clouds.
The next stage is the rain falls from the top of height when a dry air continues over mountain from leeward side. The Dry winds reach inland areas in the final stage on inland and this known as a Rain-shadow desert. The entire process of formation is divided into the seven different steps. All mountains are spread into thousands of kilometres from the bottom. Where the sea and mountains tough, the space is called coast.
Overall, the process starts with winds and end with inland areas, the opposite side of the sea.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 somewhat superficial and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the mention of 'seven different steps' is not clearly supported by the actual explanation provided, which feels disjointed. The summary of the process is accurate in its general flow, but it lacks a detailed comparison between the windward and leeward sides, which is essential for this task. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the core mechanism of the process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'The next stage is the rain falls from the top of height'. The transition between sentences is sometimes abrupt, and the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing. While there is an attempt to use linking words, they are not always used with sufficient flexibility to create a smooth, natural progression of ideas. The referencing is occasionally unclear, making the relationship between the stages of the process feel somewhat disjointed.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are instances of awkward word choices and collocations, such as 'winds approach coast from upper level of the sea' and 'mountains tough'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly obscure. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student struggles to use more precise, academic terminology to describe the meteorological process (e.g., 'moist air', 'condensation', 'precipitation'). To improve, the student should focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to geography and climate processes.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include missing articles ('from upper level of the sea'), incorrect verb forms ('winds pushed upwards'), and awkward sentence construction ('The picture represents that how desert is formed'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors is high enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. The student needs to focus on basic sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles to improve clarity and accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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