Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-22

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 linear process diagram illustrates the process of the formation of desert, which is known as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is evident that the whole process of rain-shadow desert formation consists of 7 substantial steps. It starts by the winds approached the coast, followed by upward push of winds, continued by formation of clouds, finally ended with the formation of rain-shadow desert.

The process starts when the winds reached the coast, which pushed upward and the moist air rose and cold at the windward side, followed by the formation of clouds. Consequently, it started raining.

After raining, the dry air continued over mountain, it followed downward slop towards leeward side, finally reached at inland areas. at the final stage the rain-shadow desert formed under the land.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description of the process. While the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation are identified, the explanation is overly brief and lacks the necessary detail to provide a comprehensive summary. The overview is present but lacks depth, and the description of the stages is somewhat mechanical. To improve, you must expand on the physical processes described in the diagram, such as the cooling of air, the specific moisture levels, and the contrast between the windward and leeward sides, to ensure the response is sufficiently detailed and meets the length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which is a positive feature. However, the logical flow is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the way each sentence begins with similar structures like 'The process starts' or 'After raining'. While some cohesive devices are used, such as 'consequently' and 'finally', the overall progression feels a bit disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and transition phrases to connect the stages of the process more fluidly, ensuring that the relationship between the wind, the mountain, and the resulting desert is clearly articulated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'the whole process' and 'substantial steps' are used, but there is a lack of more precise, subject-specific terminology that would be expected in a scientific description of a natural process. For example, terms like 'moisture-laden air', 'precipitation', 'orographic lift', or 'arid conditions' would enhance the quality of the writing. To improve, focus on incorporating more academic vocabulary related to geography and meteorology to demonstrate a more sophisticated range of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains several grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. For instance, 'winds approached the coast' should be 'winds approach the coast' (tense consistency), and 'cold at the windward side' is grammatically incomplete. There are also issues with word forms, such as 'downward slop' instead of 'downward slope'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the lack of complex sentence structures and the presence of frequent errors in tense and word choice limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and using a wider variety of complex sentence structures would help improve your accuracy and range.

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