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 figure illustrates the type of the dessert called rain- shadow and how it is formed.

The process involves seven steps starting with winds approaching the coast near to the mountain and ends with dry winds reaching the inland areas to form the rain- shadow deserts.

Firstly, near the sea the winds start approaching to the coast near the mountains, these winds are pushed in the upward direction to the mountains. In the next step, moisture rises and cools on the windward side of the mountain, resulting in cloud formation.

Furthermore, the formation of clouds leads to rainfall, and the dry air continues over the mountains towards the leeward side of the mountain. In the final step the dry winds reach to the inland areas called rain shadow dessert.

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 score. While the student identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully develop the explanation. The summary covers the sequence from the sea to the inland area, but it does not provide enough depth or comparative analysis to reach a higher band. To improve, the student should expand on the specific conditions at each stage, such as the temperature changes or the specific characteristics of the windward versus leeward sides.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In the next step', 'Furthermore', and 'In the final step' helps guide the reader through the stages. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the text is presented as a series of short, choppy paragraphs that do not effectively group related ideas. Improving the flow between sentences and using a more sophisticated range of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains somewhat basic and repetitive. There are also noticeable errors in word choice, such as the repeated misspelling of 'desert' as 'dessert' (a sweet dish). While the student uses some relevant terms like 'moisture', 'windward', and 'leeward', the range is limited. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to meteorological processes and ensure accurate spelling of key terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'winds approaching the coast near to the mountain' and 'pushed in the upward direction' are slightly unnatural. There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'reach to the inland areas'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical forms.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.