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 diagram illustrates the formation of rain shadow desert, of a particular type.

Overall, it can bee clearly seen that diagram has seven different stages. Starting from, A rain shadow desert forms when moist air rises over a mountain, and ending with rain drop on the inland area. however, whole process covered thousands of kilometers from sea coast to desert.

At first, The process of creating a rain-shadow desert begins as warm wind cools while traveling across the sea toward the coast. In addition, the terrain forces this moist air upward, causing it to cool further and convert into clouds. This rain falls entirely on the windward side of the mountain range. Moreover, Dry air then passes over the top, moving down the far leeward side.

Finally, clear sky remain over the flat land because the air contains no moisture left to release. This persistent lack of rainfall ultimately creates a dry rain-shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the moist air rising over the mountain to the creation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the overview is slightly underdeveloped. While you mention 'seven different stages,' the diagram does not explicitly label these as such, and your summary could be more precise by highlighting the key contrast between the windward (wet) and leeward (dry) sides of the mountain. The description of the process is generally accurate, but it lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the transition from moisture-laden air to the arid conditions on the leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'At first,' 'In addition,' 'Moreover,' and 'Finally' to link ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to make the progression of the process feel more natural. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the process description, and the conclusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'moist air,' 'windward side,' 'leeward side,' and 'arid.' There are some minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'bee' instead of 'be' and 'clear sky remain' instead of 'remains.' While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and ensure that collocations are used accurately throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., 'clear sky remain') and punctuation errors (e.g., 'Starting from, A rain shadow...'). Additionally, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'of a particular type' and 'whole process covered thousands of kilometers.' While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would improve your accuracy.

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

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