Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14

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 displays information about the formation of rain-shadow deserts. There are two sides, windward side and leeward side.

Overall, the rain-shadow desert is from through seven stages. First it starts with wind approaching coast and ends with Dry winds reaching inland areas.

In the initial step wind approach coast from the sea, which pushed the winds upward. Afterward moist air rises and cool down which allows to form clouds. And those formed clouds make rain falls in the winward side. It makes the windward side wet, on the other hand leeward side is completely dry.

In the sixth stage those clouds travel over the mountain, to make air dry. These air travel below the leeward side, and these dry winds reach inland areas. This last step allows to form rain shadow desert.

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 score. While you have identified the main features of the diagram, the description is somewhat superficial. You mention the seven stages but do not fully elaborate on the process, such as the specific role of the mountain barrier or the temperature changes in sufficient detail. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the process and meet the length requirement to allow for a full development of the task. The summary of the stages is accurate, but the lack of depth and the under-length nature of the response limit the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'First', 'Afterward', and 'on the other hand' to link ideas. However, the progression between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'these air travel'. To improve, try to use a wider range of linking words and ensure that pronouns and demonstratives clearly refer back to the previously mentioned nouns to create a smoother flow between the stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You successfully use subject-specific terms like 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'rain-shadow desert'. However, there is a lack of variety in your word choices, and some phrasing is repetitive or slightly unnatural, such as 'is from through seven stages' or 'make rain falls'. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise verbs and descriptive adjectives to explain the scientific process, and work on improving your collocations to sound more natural and academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. You have several grammatical errors, such as 'wind approach coast' (missing article and subject-verb agreement), 'which pushed the winds' (tense inconsistency), and 'allows to form' (incorrect verb pattern). These errors occur frequently enough to occasionally distract the reader. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing a process. Practicing more complex sentence structures will also help you demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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

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