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 picture shows the procedure of how one type of desert, called as rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the formation of the rain-shadow desert is a natural process. In this process, the winds come from the sea side towards mountains and collapse with the mountains and change his direction to upward. The air rises and cools and and coverts into the clouds form which causes rain or windward side. The other side of the mountain receives very little rainfall and the air becomes dry, forming a desert. Dry air continues over mountain to the leeward side and reached to the inland areas. The all process consists of thousands of kilometers travel.

Upon the completion of this stage, air loses its moisture and results in dry air, which then continues over the leeward side. Following this, the dry winds eventually reach inland areas, forming the rain-shadow desert. Furthermore, the rain-shadow desert can extend across inland areas over thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the wind movement, the cooling effect, and the resulting rain-shadow effect. However, the overview is somewhat weak, as it simply states the process is 'natural' rather than summarizing the key mechanism of moisture loss. The description is repetitive, particularly in the second and third paragraphs, where the same information about dry air moving inland is restated. To reach a higher band, you should ensure that each sentence adds new information rather than paraphrasing previous points. The summary of the process is clear, but the lack of a strong, synthesized overview limits the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow is hindered by repetition. For example, the description of dry air moving over the leeward side is mentioned in the second paragraph and then repeated in the third. While cohesive devices like 'Furthermore' and 'Following this' are used, they are sometimes applied to link redundant information rather than to progress the argument. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'The all process', which is grammatically awkward and disrupts the flow. Improving the logical progression by avoiding restatements would significantly improve the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'collapse' (which is incorrectly used here to mean 'collide') and 'change'. Phrases like 'sea side' and 'clouds form' are somewhat unnatural. There is also a lack of technical terminology related to geography or meteorology, such as 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', or 'topography'. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. The repetition of 'dry air' and 'rain-shadow desert' also suggests a limited range of synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'called as rain-shadow desert' (should be 'called a rain-shadow desert'), 'collapse with the mountains' (incorrect verb choice), 'coverts into the clouds form' (incorrect word form and syntax), and 'The all process' (incorrect determiner usage). While you attempt some complex structures, they are often marred by errors in subject-verb agreement and word order. The sentence structures are generally simple, and the frequent errors in basic grammar prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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