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)

This diagram illustrates how dry winds reaches the inland area and forms a type of desert known as rain-shadow desert.

It is visible in diagram how dry winds approaches the inland areas. First if all, wind blow above the sea level and collects a huge amount of water, coast of the mountain pushes the blowing wind in upward direction were moist air rises and cools, the blowing cool wind containing moisture forms a shape of clouds after reaching on the top of mountain clouds starts to drain holding water which creates rain falls, when the air loses all the containing moisture it becomes dry and air continues to blow over mountain over the leeward side, that dry wind reaches the inland area which is known as rain-shadow deserts. The distance between the sea and the rain-shadow desert is thousands of kilometers which states that the winds had to travel thousands of kilometers to cover the distance between sea and inland area.

Conclusion of this diagram is show how all this process occurs, how wind contain moisture form a cloud shape, lose its water and lastly dry air approaches the inland area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from moisture collection over the sea to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the key features are identified, the explanation of the process is slightly confused in places, such as the phrase 'coast of the mountain pushes the blowing wind'. The response would benefit from a more concise summary of the stages rather than a narrative-style retelling. The inclusion of the distance detail is a good attempt at reporting specific information, but the overall structure could be more professional and objective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a report. However, the logical flow is hindered by awkward phrasing and a lack of sophisticated cohesive devices. Transitions like 'First if all' are used, but the connection between sentences is often mechanical. The final paragraph is labeled as a 'Conclusion', which is unnecessary in an Academic Task 1 report; instead, the main features should be synthesized into an overview paragraph at the beginning. Referencing is sometimes unclear, making the progression of ideas feel disjointed rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate to convey the basic meaning, but it lacks the precision and academic tone required for a higher band. There are several instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'drain holding water' instead of 'precipitate' or 'release moisture', and 'shape of clouds' which is redundant. The range of vocabulary is limited and relies on repetitive phrasing. To improve, you should focus on using more specific scientific terminology related to weather patterns and geographical processes, and ensure that collocations are accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. There are issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'dry winds reaches', 'wind blow'), article usage (e.g., 'in diagram'), and sentence structure. Many sentences are run-on or lack proper punctuation, such as the long sentence beginning with 'First if all'. While there is an attempt to use complex structures, they are often faulty or contain errors in word order. A focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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