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 a type of desert called a rain shadow desert it formed.

Overall, it is clear that the formation of rain shadow desert involves seven stages. Beginning with the winds approach coast and ending with the dry winds reach inland areas. Coast and inland between have thousands of kilometers distance.

Initially, moist wind blow from the sea towards the coast. In the second stages winds pushed upward side of mountains and reached the windward side of mountains. After that moist air rises in the upward side due to this becoming cool. Subsequently, this air moist air converted in clouds form.

After the cloud form, in the fifth stage it was resulting in heavy rain falls. Next stage dry air walk down the continues over leeward side of mountains. In the final stage dry air reach the down side of inland areas and this area converted in rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the progression from moist air movement to the creation of a rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the relationship between the geographical features and the meteorological process. While the seven stages are mentioned, the explanation of the 'leeward' and 'windward' sides is slightly confused in the text. To reach a higher band, you should focus on synthesizing the information more effectively rather than simply listing the stages, and ensure that the terminology provided in the diagram is used with greater precision to explain the causal links between the mountain barrier and the resulting climate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often repetitive or slightly unnatural, such as the frequent use of 'next stage' or 'after that'. Some transitions are missing or awkward, which disrupts the flow of information. For instance, the second paragraph starts with 'Initially' but the following sentences lack smooth logical connectors to link the cooling of the air to the formation of clouds. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You rely on simple verbs like 'blow', 'pushed', and 'walk', which do not accurately describe meteorological processes. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'dry air walk down the continues', which is grammatically and lexically confusing. To improve, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to geography and weather, such as 'prevailing winds', 'condensation', 'precipitation', and 'arid'. Expanding your range to include more sophisticated collocations will help you convey the information with greater precision and academic tone.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'moist wind blow'), missing articles (e.g., 'in clouds form'), and awkward sentence structures (e.g., 'it formed' and 'dry air walk down'). The range of structures is limited, consisting mostly of simple sentences. To achieve a higher score, you need to demonstrate better control over complex sentence structures, such as using relative clauses or passive voice to describe the process (e.g., 'As the air is forced upward, it cools and condenses'). Proofreading for basic errors like tense consistency and pluralization is essential.

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

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