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 represents that how a rain-shadow desert is situated and detail information of the process is given.

It can seen from the picture that the step starts with winds approach coast which is comes from upper level from sea and then it pushed upwards direction when moist air rises and cools. When reached this stage, the air takes cloud form in windward side of mountains and after on highest level, it started falling rain over the surface.

After completion of all this, dry air continues over mountain towards down side where leeward side is there. In final step, dry winds reach inland areas on surface of inland which is called rain-shadow desert. Meanwhile, The mountain is spread in thousand of kilometers in the bottom of earth between sea and inland.

Overall, the entire process has seven initial stages which starts with coast and end from dry winds on inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, identifying the movement of air from the coast, the ascent over the mountain, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the reference to 'seven initial stages' is not clearly supported by the diagram, which does not explicitly label these stages. While the main features are reported, the comparison between the windward and leeward sides could be more analytical. The summary is functional but lacks the depth of detail expected for a top-tier response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the process description and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'After completion of all this' and 'Meanwhile', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'after on highest level'. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the referencing is occasionally imprecise, for example, 'the step starts with winds approach coast'. Improving the variety and natural flow of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication and precision needed for a higher score. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'detail information', 'pushed upwards direction', and 'takes cloud form'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a limited range of vocabulary. To improve, the student should focus on more precise scientific terminology related to meteorology and geography, and work on collocations, such as using 'prevailing winds' or 'precipitation' instead of 'falling rain'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the writing. Examples include 'The diagram represents that how a rain-shadow desert is situated', 'It can seen from the picture', and 'The mountain is spread in thousand of kilometers'. These errors involve incorrect verb forms, missing prepositions, and faulty sentence construction. While the meaning remains understandable, the high frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. More attention to subject-verb agreement and article usage is necessary.

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

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