Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 given diagram illustrates the 7 different steps that explain the process of formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the diagram shows two sides of the mountains. At one side, there is the sea and that side is named as Windward side. In contrast, the other side of the mountains contain a land desert and called Leeward side. The wind at Windward side is cool and full of Humidity. On the other hand, the air at Leeward side is totally dry.

Firstly, the normal air simply passes along the surface of the sea but with the passage of time it moves upward gradually. As far as the air rises it becomes cool and full of moist. In next step, the cold air transformed into clouds form.

On the top of the mountains the rain falls and the dry air, produced by windwards side, slightly moves downward over the mountains. Finally, the dry air reaches in desert land areas. That is how the rain-shadow desert id formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the two sides of the mountain and the progression of the air. However, the description of the process is somewhat simplified. For instance, the transition from 'normal air' to 'clouds' and the specific role of the mountain as a barrier could be explained with more technical precision. While the key stages are present, the summary lacks a clear, cohesive overview of the causal relationship between the elevation and the resulting desertification. To improve, ensure that the relationship between the cooling air, condensation, and the rain-shadow effect is explicitly linked to the geographical features shown.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized into paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the two sides of the mountain and then the step-by-step process. Cohesive devices such as 'In contrast', 'On the other hand', and 'Firstly' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as 'the dry air, produced by windwards side', which is slightly confusing. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be smoother to better reflect the continuous nature of the meteorological process described in the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'illustrates', 'formation', and 'humidity'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'full of Humidity' (should be 'humid') and 'transformed into clouds form' (redundant). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to geography and meteorology, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'elevation', or 'arid conditions', rather than relying on general terms like 'normal air' or 'dry air'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'that side is named as Windward side' (should be 'is known as the windward side'), 'the other side of the mountains contain' (subject-verb agreement error: 'contains'), and 'rain-shadow desert id formed' (typo). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage (e.g., 'the' windward side), and proofreading for minor slips to ensure greater control over complex structures.

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

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