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 diagram explains rain-shadow desert formation, initiated by moist air from the sea. As it rises over mountains, it cools and rains, leaving dry air to create arid conditions on the leeward side.

Overall, the diagram illustrates some major changing that occur in atmosphere when moist air from sea rises from bottom to upward and cause raining and then to desert formation.

The diagram shows how the rain-shadow desert formation formed by moist air rise from the bottom upward to mountain . When wind approaches coast sea pushed it upward and moist air rises and cools. After this stage moist air converted into clouds that make atmosphere clean and happy. Clouds contain water which is stored in the form of moist air. After clouds formation the rain began at the top of mountain. After heavy rain air continues to dry over the mountain. At leepward side the air become completely dry and move down through mountain. When dry winds reaches the Ground area it cases 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, from the moist air rising over the mountain to the arid conditions on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks the precision expected in an Academic Task 1 report. For instance, the phrase 'make atmosphere clean and happy' is inappropriate for a scientific description and does not accurately reflect the process shown in the diagram. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the transition between stages is occasionally unclear, and the summary lacks a professional, objective tone.

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 somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'After this stage', 'After clouds formation', 'After heavy rain'). There is a lack of variety in linking words, and some transitions between sentences feel abrupt. The overall progression of ideas is logical, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider range of referencing and linking expressions to connect the stages of the process more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is limited and occasionally imprecise. The student relies on basic terms like 'bottom', 'upward', and 'clean and happy', which are not suitable for an academic report. There are also errors in word choice, such as 'cases' instead of 'causes' and 'leepward' (spelling error). While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'moist air', 'leeward side', and 'arid conditions', the overall range is insufficient to convey the information with the necessary precision and academic tone required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'major changing that occur', 'moist air rise', 'wind approaches coast sea pushed it', and 'air become completely dry'. Subject-verb agreement and tense consistency are problematic throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing and capitalization.

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

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