Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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)

This diagram illustrates a cyclic process include 7 stages, through which a wind along the sea approach the coast and hits with thousands of kilometer wide mountain and at the end of cycle a rain shadow desert form.

Firstly, winds along the sea approach coast of mountain. When the wind hits the mountain, it pushes upward and mix with the moister in air, through a windward side of mountain. After that, moist air rises and cools and clouds are formed. After the formation of clouds, the rain falls from clouds. Moreover, after that the dry air continues over the mountain, via leeward side of mountain. At the end of this cyclic process , as shown in given diagram the dry air reach inland areas, on the other side of mountain and rain shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. Because the response is under-length, the development of ideas is limited, and the summary lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the process described in the diagram. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the transition from moist air to dry air is somewhat simplistic. To improve, you should expand on the descriptions of each stage, ensuring that you provide a more comprehensive overview of the meteorological changes occurring at each point of the mountain's topography.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is acceptable, though the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'After that', and 'Moreover' to link sentences. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally repetitive, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. To reach a higher band, try to vary your linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus. The overall structure is logical enough to follow, but the lack of sophisticated transitions limits the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite limited and repetitive. You use basic terms like 'hits', 'pushes', and 'formed' multiple times. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'wind along the sea approach the coast' and 'mix with the moister in air'. To improve, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to geography and meteorology, such as 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', 'topography', or 'arid'. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you avoid repeating the same words throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'a cyclic process include 7 stages' (subject-verb agreement), 'a wind along the sea approach' (article usage), and 'hits with thousands of kilometer wide mountain' (missing articles and preposition error). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and sentence construction prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and correct article usage.

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

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