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 the step-by-step process of how a rain-shadow desert is made.

Overall, formation of rain shadow desert consists of 7 stages. It starts with wind flowing over the sea that carries moisture in upward direction on the windward side and ends with the dry desert formation on the other side of the mountain.

On the first stage, the wind flow over a sea and takes the moisture droplets with it, then the moist air rises in upward direction on the windward side of the mountain. Resultantly, the clouds are formed which after reaching a saturation point, pour the rain on the same side, the rain water goes back in to the sea and this cycle continues.

The other part of cycle continues on the opposite side of mountain called the leeward side. The dry air flows over the mountains on the leeward side. This dry air then reach the inland and become a dry rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. For instance, the mention of '7 stages' is not clearly reflected in the visual diagram, which might be an over-interpretation. While the windward and leeward sides are correctly identified, the explanation of the physical processes—such as the cooling of air as it rises and the subsequent loss of moisture—could be more precise. The summary is functional but lacks a more sophisticated synthesis of the information provided in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the windward side to the leeward side. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'On the first stage' and 'The other part of cycle' are used to transition, but the flow between sentences could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the overall structure feels a bit rigid, which limits the score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. The student uses basic terms like 'made', 'takes', and 'goes back', which are functional but not academic. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'in upward direction' instead of 'upwards' or 'in an upward direction'. While the student successfully uses technical terms like 'windward', 'leeward', and 'saturation point', the overall range is limited. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise verbs and nouns related to meteorological processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'formation of rain shadow desert' (missing an article), 'wind flow' (should be 'flows'), and 'this dry air then reach' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The punctuation is generally correct, but the control over articles and verb forms needs more attention to achieve greater accuracy.

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.