Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the formation of rain shadow deserts contains seven steps and the distance between coast and inland are thousands of kilometers. The mountains have the two main sides are windward side and leeward side. It starts with the approach of winds near sea areas and ends when dry winds reaches inland areas.

To begin with, the process starts with the winds approach coast at sea areas and continue by pushing winds upward to the mountains. The moist air rises and cools, after that the formation of cloud take place at windward side. The rain starts from formed clouds after reaching top of the mountains.

Turning to last two steps, the dry air continues over mountains at leeward side after the rain, followed by the final step in forming rain-shadow desert, the dry winds reaches to inland areas at the bottom of mountains, and finally the formation of rain-shadow desert completed at this point.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly outlined the movement of air from the sea, over the mountains, and into the inland areas. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the information. While you mention the 'seven steps', the diagram is better described as a continuous process rather than a list of discrete steps. To reach a higher band, ensure you integrate the stages more fluidly and highlight the contrast between the windward and leeward sides more explicitly as a key feature of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Turning to', and 'finally' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally repetitive, and some transitions feel slightly forced. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and referencing techniques to avoid repeating phrases like 'the formation of' or 'the dry winds'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'moist air', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'winds approach coast at sea areas' (should be 'winds approach the coast from the sea') and 'the formation of cloud take place' (should be 'cloud formation takes place'). The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Focusing on more natural collocations will improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the winds approach coast') and subject-verb agreement ('the formation of cloud take place'). Additionally, there are punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma in the first sentence ('illustrates, how'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. To improve, focus on consistent article usage and ensuring that verbs agree with their subjects.

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

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