Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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 picture describes the process of how rain shadow desert is formed by the rain falls on mountains.

Overall, it can be seen that the diagram delineates seven distinctive stages beginning with the winds approaches to the coast and ending with the dry air reaches to inland areas. The most notable steps are included such as clouds formation and rainfall.

Initially, the winds from the approaches to the coast and then it moved upward along the windward side of the mountains. When air reaches to the sky it become moist and cools and converted into clouds. After this, rain falls on the mountains and move downward by following the leeward side with dry air. In the final step, dry winds reaches to the inland areas and resulted into formation of rain shadow desert.

In conclusion, the formation of desert is a combination of natural processes that consists of a sea, mountains, cool and dry winds and the rainfall.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the description is somewhat superficial. While you mention the windward and leeward sides, the explanation of the physical processes—such as the cooling of air as it rises and the subsequent loss of moisture—is slightly simplified. To achieve a higher band, ensure you provide a more detailed account of the relationship between the altitude, moisture levels, and the resulting desert formation. The overview is present but could be more analytical by highlighting the contrast between the two sides of the mountain more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, a body paragraph, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After this', and 'In the final step' to guide the reader through the process. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, with the body paragraph containing the bulk of the information. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the progression of ideas feels more natural rather than just a list of steps.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'delineates', 'windward', and 'leeward'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'winds from the approaches to the coast' and 'resulted into formation'. These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of your writing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise scientific terminology and ensuring that your collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'winds from the approaches', 'it become moist', and 'dry winds reaches'. Additionally, there are issues with tense consistency and preposition usage. While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the process. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, especially regarding singular/plural agreement and verb forms.

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

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