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)

The diagram illustrates how well known rain-shadow desert forms naturally because of winds , moisture and rain.

The cycle starts from the sea when winds go over the sea upward to the coast and as it reaches higher level moist in air rises and becomes cold because of low temperature this air forms clouds as these formed cloud passes through the peak and reaches more high level rain fall starts.

After rain when dry air passes through the mountain it surpasses thousand kilometers leeward side and reaches inland areas and form rain-shadow desert in inland areas. sea and mountains are the main factor to form rain-shadow desert it provides essential environment to develop dry air which is very important to form rain-shadow desert since these area receive very little rain fall.

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 stages of the rain-shadow effect are identified—moist air rising, cloud formation, precipitation, and the subsequent dry air moving inland—the explanation is somewhat superficial. The lack of detail regarding the transition between stages and the failure to reach the required length means the task is only partially addressed. To improve, you should expand on the physical processes described in the diagram, such as the cooling of air at higher altitudes and the specific contrast between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain range.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three short paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. There is a lack of cohesive devices to link the stages of the process logically; for example, the transition between the sea and the mountain peak is abrupt. The use of referencing is also weak, making it difficult for the reader to follow the flow of the cycle. To improve, use linking words such as 'subsequently,' 'as a result,' 'furthermore,' and 'consequently' to connect the sentences and clarify the causal relationships between the different stages of the desert formation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. You rely on simple terms like 'forms,' 'goes,' and 'reaches,' which are repetitive. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'moist in air' instead of 'moisture in the air' and 'more high level' instead of 'higher altitude.' To improve, incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to geography and meteorology, such as 'prevailing winds,' 'condensation,' 'precipitation,' 'leeward side,' and 'arid conditions.' Expanding your range of descriptive verbs and nouns will help you convey the process more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include missing articles (e.g., 'starts from the sea'), incorrect word forms (e.g., 'rain fall' instead of 'rainfall'), and run-on sentences that lack proper punctuation. For instance, the second paragraph is a long, comma-spliced sentence that makes the sequence of events hard to follow. To improve, focus on using correct punctuation to separate distinct ideas and ensure subject-verb agreement. Practicing the use of relative clauses and passive voice would also help you describe scientific processes more naturally.

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.