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 illustrates the formation of a single type of desert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven consecutive steps, starting from the sea coast and ends by the island covering thousands of kilometers.

In the beginning, the wind approach the coast, which is pushed upward to the windward side of the mountain. The moist air rises and cool at this point results in the formation of clouds. Rain started to pour out of these clouds before dry air continues over the mountain towards the leeward side.

At last, dry winds reach the island forming the rain-shadow desert. One side carries the moist and humid air, while the other creates the dry wind and areas indicating desertification.

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 task achievement. While the main features of the process are identified, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the stages shown in the diagram. The summary of the process is somewhat superficial, and the comparison between the windward and leeward sides could be more thoroughly developed to provide a comprehensive overview. To improve, you should aim to expand on the specific physical changes occurring at each stage, such as the temperature drop and the specific nature of the air mass as it moves across the mountain range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In the beginning', 'At last', and 'while', which provide a basic structure. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that your transitions between the stages of the process are smoother and that you use a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more naturally. The overall structure is clear, but the brevity of the response limits the effectiveness of the cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'desertification', 'windward', and 'leeward' being used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'wind approach' instead of 'winds approach' and 'cool' instead of 'cools'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to meteorological processes, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', or 'moisture-laden'. Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns will help you achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There are several grammatical errors throughout the text that affect the accuracy of your writing. For instance, 'wind approach' should be 'winds approach', 'cool at this point results' is a fragmented construction, and 'Rain started to pour' should be consistent with the present tense used elsewhere ('starts'). While you attempt some complex sentence structures, they often contain errors in subject-verb agreement or tense consistency. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and ensuring consistent verb tenses will significantly improve your score.

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

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