Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 presented picture illustrates a formation a desert, named as the rain-shadow desert.

The desert starts inside the sea and is of thousands of km wide.The process initiates from the sea level and slowly results in In the first stage of the formation the wind approached the coast and in the second stage wind had been pushed pushed upwards from the sea level.Whereas, in the third stage the winds went higher where moist air rinsed and cooled.

Furthermore, the rinsed and cooled air went toward the windward side and resulted in the formation of clouds and through these clouds rainfall occurred. Thereafter, the dry air continues over mountains, passes from leeward side and reaches inland areas . Finally, forms the Rain-shadow desert

To conclude, the wind passes trough various stages as mentioned, to form the clouds which in turns provides rain and the dry air continues over mountain which reaches inland areas resulting in Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the movement of air from the sea, over the mountains, and into the inland areas. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks precision. For instance, the phrase 'thousands of km wide' is not supported by the provided diagram, and the explanation of the stages is slightly disjointed. While the key features are mentioned, the relationship between the cooling air, cloud formation, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side could be more clearly articulated to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the process. The summary is functional but lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'Whereas, in the third stage' and 'Thereafter, the dry air continues'. The progression of ideas is sometimes interrupted by repetitive phrasing, such as 'pushed pushed' and the slightly confusing transition between the stages. While there is a logical flow from the sea to the inland desert, the connections between sentences could be smoother and more varied to improve the overall readability and cohesion of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. There are instances of inaccurate word choice, such as 'rinsed' instead of 'condensed' or 'cooled', and 'approached' which is not the most precise term for wind movement. The range of vocabulary is limited, relying on simple descriptors like 'wind', 'sea', and 'mountains'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to meteorological processes, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'leeward slope', and 'arid conditions', rather than relying on general-purpose language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'illustrates a formation a desert', 'wind approached the coast', and 'in turns provides rain'. There are also issues with punctuation and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and verb tense consistency prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

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