Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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 how rain-shadow dessert is formed.

Overall, there are seven steps on the formation of rain-shadow desserts, which mainly includes the role of the sea, mountains and inland areas.

There is a thousand of kilometres away from sea coastal area to the rain-shadow dessert area. In the sea area, wind approaches the coast which is pushed upwards and the moist air rises and coos in the windward side of the mountains. There formation of clouds happen since there is condensation, wherein the rain falls and dry air continues over mountain in the leeward side.

From the leeward side of the mountain the dry winds reach the inland areas moving towards to the rain-shadow dessert.

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 ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main features of the rain-shadow effect are identified, the explanation is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The process is described in a very simplified manner, missing key nuances shown in the diagram. To improve, you must expand on the stages of the process, ensuring that each step is clearly explained and that the relationship between the sea, the mountain, and the desert is fully articulated to meet the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organised into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat mechanical. For example, the transition between the sea area and the mountain side is abrupt. The logical flow is present but basic. To achieve a higher band, you should use a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect ideas more fluidly, such as 'subsequently', 'consequently', or 'as a result of this process', rather than relying on simple sentence starters.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for a higher score. There are noticeable errors, such as the misspelling of 'desert' as 'dessert' (which refers to a sweet dish) and 'coos' instead of 'cools'. These errors, while not completely impeding communication, detract from the professional tone expected in an Academic Task 1 response. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to geography and weather, such as 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions', and ensure careful proofreading to avoid simple spelling mistakes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. For instance, 'There is a thousand of kilometres away from sea coastal area' is grammatically incorrect and awkward. Additionally, 'There formation of clouds happen' contains a subject-verb agreement error. The use of articles and prepositions is also inconsistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and subject-verb agreement, and practice using more complex structures like passive voice, which is particularly useful for describing scientific processes.

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

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