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 provides the information on formation of rain-shadow deserts with two sides in it.

Overall, the phenomenon consists of seven sequenced steps Starting from winds approaching coast to finally drying wind reaching inland areas to form rain-shadowed desert.

In the windward side which is to the left of mountain, initially above the sea winds approach coast. Next, these winds are pushed upwards then air meets moist and air rises which cools down later. Afterwards, clouds are formed due to moisture air. Later, the rain showers on mountain.

In the next stage, the leeward side opposite to windward, dry air continues over the mountain and starts falling down from top of the hill. Then, dry winds reach inland areas from peak of hill to bottom. In the final stage on the inland rain-shadow desert is formed. This process travels around thousands of kilometers from starting to last stage of formation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the wind approaching the coast to the formation of the desert. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the relationship between the two sides. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the meteorological process is slightly simplistic. For instance, the transition from 'moist air' to 'clouds' is mentioned, but the causal link to the rain-shadow effect could be more explicitly developed to fully address the 'how' of the process. The response meets the minimum length requirement and provides a logical summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, separating the introduction, overview, and the two main stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the windward side', 'Afterwards', and 'In the next stage' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, the flow is occasionally repetitive, and some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The use of referencing is generally clear, though the connection between the final sentence regarding distance and the rest of the process is somewhat abrupt. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using subject-specific terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moisture', and 'rain-shadow'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'air meets moist' instead of 'air becomes saturated with moisture'. The repetition of basic verbs like 'formed' and 'approach' limits the sophistication of the response. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise scientific collocations and a wider variety of descriptive verbs to explain the movement of air and the transformation of the landscape.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'provides the information on formation' (missing article 'the') and 'moisture air' (incorrect adjective form). Additionally, the sentence 'In the final stage on the inland rain-shadow desert is formed' is syntactically awkward. While the meaning is generally clear and these errors do not impede communication, the control over complex structures is inconsistent. Increasing the accuracy of articles and prepositions, as well as refining sentence construction, would improve the score.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.