Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12
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 diagram demonstrates the formation of rain-shadow desert step by step.
Overall, there are total seven steps of how rain-shadow desert is formed and it starts from sea and ends in to desert.
It can be vividly seen that, in the first step winds approach to the cost side from sea, after that winds goes to upwards direction because of mountains comes in their way.Before it converted to cloud form wind soaks the moisture from air and cools down.In the next step rain falls happens from the cloud and these all steps performed windward side of the mountain.
Moving to the rest of the information, now clouds have no moisture after raining it converts in to the dry air and continues to its direction over mountain on leeward side of the mountains.In last step dry winds reach to inland area where the actual rain-shadow desert is formed.During all these steps wind travels thousands of kilometers.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the progression from the sea to the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the process. While the key stages are mentioned, the explanation of the physical process is slightly inaccurate in places (e.g., 'wind soaks the moisture' and 'converts in to the dry air'), which suggests a lack of precision in interpreting the scientific information provided in the diagram. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information more fluently rather than listing steps, and ensure the technical details are described with greater accuracy.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into two paragraphs, which is a logical approach for a process description. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and occasionally mechanical, such as 'In the next step' and 'Moving to the rest of the information'. The flow between sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition between the windward and leeward sides. While the progression of ideas is generally clear, the lack of varied linking words and the somewhat disjointed sentence structure prevent the response from achieving a higher band in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. You rely on basic verbs like 'goes', 'comes', and 'performed'. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'rain falls happens' (a grammatical error) and 'cost side' (likely a misspelling of 'coast'). To improve, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific terminology related to geography and meteorology, such as 'prevailing winds', 'orographic lift', 'precipitation', and 'arid'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you convey the process more professionally.
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 occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Examples include 'there are total seven steps of how rain-shadow desert is formed', 'winds goes to upwards direction', and 'before it converted to cloud form wind soaks'. There are also issues with article usage ('from sea', 'in to desert') and subject-verb agreement. While the meaning is generally discernible, the frequency of these errors indicates a lack of control over complex structures, which limits the score in this category.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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