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 prosses diagram illustrate that what steps included in the formation of the rain shadow deserts starting from sea accrossing through mountain and ending at rainshadow desert.

Overall, the method includes seven steps .first five stages rise the air till the top of the mountain having cloude formation and rain falling .After five steps wind begins to dry because of no moisturising in air as result the land becam rain shadow desert.

At starting points the blowing wind of sea level pushed upward the mountain containing wetness and coolness.the air rises to the mountains top . cloud formed and drizzle starts at windward side of the mountain because the sea moisturises the wind.

At leeward side drizzle does not happen therefore dried wind continues its motion over the mountain. After this all prosses the driness reach in land farms as a result after thousends of years the land at the opposite side of the sea became rain shadow desert .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the progression from the sea to the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. While the key stages are identified, the explanation of the process is slightly disjointed, and the connection between the 'windward' and 'leeward' sides could be more clearly articulated to show a deeper understanding of the meteorological process depicted. The summary is functional but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'After this all prosses' and 'At starting points'. The flow between sentences is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, making the progression of ideas feel a bit forced. While there is a logical attempt to sequence the information, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the occasional misuse of referencing mean that the cohesion is not always smooth or effective.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and contains several spelling errors, such as 'prosses', 'accrossing', 'cloude', 'becam', and 'thousends'. The range of vocabulary is basic, relying on simple descriptors like 'dried wind' or 'drizzle starts'. There is little evidence of the precise, academic vocabulary needed to describe scientific processes effectively. To improve, you should focus on learning topic-specific collocations and ensuring accurate spelling of common words, as these errors occasionally distract the reader and limit the clarity of your explanation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Issues include incorrect verb tenses ('diagram illustrate'), missing articles ('at sea level'), and awkward sentence construction ('first five stages rise the air'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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