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 shows the process of how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the wind passes through different landscapes and mixed with water and soil to make an inland specifically called as rain-shadow desert.

At the very first stage, the wind blows over the sea and reaches the coast, which is actually a mountain. Then, this air is pushed in upward position because of the height of the mountain. When it reaches the top, it is converted into cloud. These clouds get heavy and results in rainfall. In this process, heavy particles of the clouds fall down in the form of raindrops while the light-weight water molecules start flowing down towards the inland areas in the form of dry air. Dry winds blow over the inlands forming a new type of desert, mainly named as rain-shadow desert. This desert is formed thousands of kilometers away from the area where this wind actually starts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the wind blowing over the sea to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description of the scientific process is slightly inaccurate; for example, the claim that 'light-weight water molecules start flowing down' is not a standard explanation for rain-shadow formation. The summary is generally clear, but it lacks a more sophisticated overview of the relationship between the mountain barrier and the resulting climate change. To improve, ensure that the scientific logic aligns more closely with the visual data provided in the diagram, and focus on highlighting the contrast between the wet windward side and the dry leeward side more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, following the chronological order of the process. The use of cohesive devices such as 'At the very first stage', 'Then', and 'In this process' helps guide the reader through the steps. However, the paragraphing is insufficient; the entire response is written as one block of text. For a Task 1 response, it is essential to separate the introduction/overview from the body paragraphs to improve readability. Additionally, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between the cloud formation and the dry air movement could be smoother to better reflect the cause-and-effect nature of the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. Phrases like 'pushed in upward position' and 'mainly named as' are slightly unnatural. While the student uses some relevant terms like 'rain-shadow desert' and 'inland areas', the range is limited. There is an attempt to describe the process, but the word choice is often simplistic. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to geography and meteorology, such as 'prevailing winds', 'leeward side', 'precipitation', and 'arid conditions', rather than relying on general descriptive language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'mixed with water and soil to make an inland specifically called as rain-shadow desert' and 'results in rainfall' (should be 'result'). The phrase 'inland specifically called as' is grammatically incorrect. While the meaning is generally clear and the errors do not severely impede communication, the control over complex structures is inconsistent. Increasing the accuracy of verb tenses and prepositional phrases, as well as refining sentence construction, would help in achieving a higher score.

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

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