Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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 presents how one kind of desert is made which is called a rain-shadow desert.

It is a natural cycle, consisting total seven stages, starting from winds is reached coast and ending with a rain-shadow desert is made in inland.

Initially, winds is reached above the sea, along with mountains. The mountains are thousands of kilometers wide. After that, the winds goes upwards because it is pushed upwardly by those mountains. Then, the moist air is risen and cooled. As a result, the clouds are made.

Subsequently, rain is fallen on the windward side. Those five stages are occurred on the windward side of the mountains. Turning to the other side of the mountains which was leeward side of the mountains, dry air is continued over those mountains. Furthermore, the dry air is gone downwards, on the leeward side of the mountains. Finally, dry air reached to inland sites. In the land, a rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the windward and leeward sides of the mountains. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. While the key features are mentioned, the explanation of the transition from moist air to dry air could be more analytical. The response identifies the stages but does not fully synthesize the information to highlight the causal relationships effectively. To improve, ensure you provide a clear introductory overview that summarizes the entire process before detailing the specific steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into a logical sequence, following the stages of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire body of the response is presented as a single block, which hinders readability. Additionally, some transitions feel repetitive or mechanical. To reach a higher band, use more varied cohesive devices and ensure that the information is grouped into distinct paragraphs, such as separating the windward side process from the leeward side process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks precision. Phrases like 'is made' and 'is reached' are used frequently, which limits the range of expression. There is a lack of more sophisticated terminology related to meteorological or geographical processes, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', or 'arid'. While the meaning is clear, the lexical range is narrow and relies on basic verbs and structures. To improve, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to the subject matter and avoid repeating the same verbs throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, particularly with passive voice constructions and verb tenses. For example, 'winds is reached' and 'moist air is risen' are grammatically incorrect; the passive voice is misused here. There are also issues with article usage and word order. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence structures prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on mastering the correct formation of the passive voice and ensuring subject-verb agreement to improve clarity and accuracy.

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

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