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 illustrate the process of forming of rain shadow desert,a type of desert.

Overall,the diagram shows how rain shadow desert id formed.From one side of mountain,wind approaches the peak point of mountain and make sure that rain falls there.While the other other side of desert the way of dry wind reaches inland areas.

From windward side,wind approaches coast and pushed upward forming moist air and cools which then produce clouds and finally on top of mountain rain start falling.

From leeward side, dry air countinues on top of mountain and after covering thousands of kilometers reaches inland areas.as on this this side,there is no sea and coast.So,dry air cannot form mosit air and clouds.So,on this side rain cannot fall and wind remains dry.In short ,On side there is rain fall while on the other side there is no precipitation due to no formation of sea and coast.The process is happened after covering thousands of kilometeres

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, identifying the windward and leeward sides. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. While the main features are highlighted, the explanation of the process is slightly simplistic. For instance, the explanation of why the air remains dry on the leeward side could be more clearly linked to the loss of moisture on the windward side. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the cooling air, condensation, and the resulting precipitation is described more accurately and concisely.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression from the windward to the leeward side. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical and sometimes inaccurate, such as the repetitive use of 'So' and 'From'. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences is somewhat disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly enhance the logical flow of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are several instances of word-choice errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'the process of forming of rain shadow desert' and 'the way of dry wind reaches inland areas'. The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is a lack of precise terminology related to geography or meteorology. To improve, focus on using more specific academic vocabulary and ensuring correct collocations, such as 'moisture-laden air' instead of 'moist air'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with subject-verb agreement ('The diagram illustrate'), article usage ('on top of mountain'), and punctuation. Sentence structures are generally simple, and attempts at more complex structures often result in errors that can impede clarity, such as 'The process is happened after covering thousands of kilometeres'. There is a lack of control over basic grammar, which affects the overall readability of the text. Focusing on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors is essential.

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

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