Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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 shows the steps involved in the formation of the rain-shadow desert through mountain, by covering the thousands of kilometers

The process involves seven steps, starting from the sea where coastal winds approached first , which is later moves towards mountain top until it reaches inland areas, forming the rain-shadow desert. This whole formation involves the distance of thousand of kilometers, starting from sea to covering the whole mountain until air reaches to the other side of the mountain.

To begin, the winds from sea go upwards towards the mountain, where it becomes moist and cool due the low temperature at windward side. After that, moist air transformed into clouds before it rains heavily at the top the mountain.

After the downpour, the dry winds shifts their direction and continues moving the downhill passing the Leeward side of the mountain towards the inland areas where the rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the sea to the formation of the desert. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the mention of 'thousands of kilometers' is not supported by the diagram, which shows a localized mountain process. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the transition from moist air to dry air could be more detailed. The summary is functional but lacks the analytical depth needed to fully highlight the relationship between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. There is a clear introduction, a middle section describing the windward side, and a final section for the leeward side. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'which is later moves towards'. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the second paragraph where the flow between sentences feels a bit disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words would help the text flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'approached' instead of 'approaches' and 'transformed' instead of 'transforms'. The student relies on basic terminology like 'go upwards' and 'moves', which could be replaced with more academic alternatives like 'ascends' or 'travels'. While the meaning is clear, the lack of sophisticated or topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'precipitation', 'orographic', 'arid') limits the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('winds... moves', 'winds shifts'), incorrect preposition usage ('at the top the mountain'), and awkward phrasing ('through mountain, by covering'). While the student attempts some complex sentence structures, these are often marred by errors. The control of articles and verb tenses is inconsistent. To improve, the student should focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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