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 given chart gives information about the overall formation of the rain-shadow deserts. As long as, Mountains has been placed around thousands of kilometers.

First of all, winds play a vital role to approach the coast, and they try to push with the flow to upwards. Moving further, when the moist of the air grows and it act to make if cools and take the next step moves forward to the top. Furthermore, moist air turns into clouds form and start preparation for the rains to be fall down on the mountains.

As well as, after rain falls, it will move towards to dry air to continues over the mountain sides. Simultaneously, at the very last step dry winds arrive to into the inland areas. Last but not least, mountain has two different sides one is windward side and another is leeward which is very vital for the overall formation of rain flow.

In conclusion, rain formation starts from the sea side and move toward to the inland areas. However, thousands of kilometers mountain has been covered with the 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, such as the movement of moist air, cloud formation, and the transition to dry air on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat superficial and lacks precision in explaining the causal relationships shown in the diagram. For instance, the explanation of why the air becomes dry is vague. While the main features are identified, the report lacks a clear overview or summary of the process, which is essential for Task 1. The information is presented in a somewhat disjointed manner, and the connection between the mountain's position and the resulting climate is not fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as 'As long as,' 'As well as,' and 'Last but not least,' which are used incorrectly in this context. The progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing, making the logical flow feel forced. While there is an attempt to use transition words, they do not always serve to connect the ideas effectively, leading to a somewhat repetitive and disjointed structure. Referencing is occasionally unclear, particularly when referring to the sides of the mountain.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and often imprecise. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'preparation for the rains to be fall down' and 'moist of the air.' The student relies on basic terminology and struggles to use academic collocations appropriate for describing a scientific process. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of variety and the frequent misuse of terms prevent the response from reaching a higher band. To improve, the student should focus on learning specific vocabulary related to weather patterns and geographical processes, such as 'precipitation,' 'condensation,' and 'prevailing winds.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. There are issues with subject-verb agreement ('Mountains has been placed'), article usage, and sentence structure ('it act to make if cools'). The attempt to use complex sentences often results in errors, such as the misuse of prepositions and verb forms. While the student attempts a mix of structures, the lack of control over basic grammar rules is evident throughout. Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall accuracy is low, which significantly impacts the readability of the report.

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