Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23
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 illustrates one type of desert , known as a rain shadow desert is formed.
Overall, the formation of rain shadow deserts contains seven different kind of phases. Which is starting from sea or coast area and end with mix into inland. The process takes thousands of kilometers for formation a rain shadow desert.
In detail, It start with coastal area then touch mountains in the top and next formed in inland area, Which occupied thousands of kilometers.
Initially in coast area winds are flow towards sea. Secondly , winds are push upwards from coast level to mountain top side. Afterwards in third stage moist air rises and cools the area of mountain. In fourth stage , in windward side the clouds form .Then in fifth stage the rain falls start heavily on the top of the mountain. Next in sixth stage dry air formed and it continues over mountain. After that it sides below between it touch leeward side. Then in seventh stage dry winds decline towards inland areas. Where all dry winds gathered and make rain shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the key sequence from the coast to the inland area. However, the description is somewhat mechanical, relying on a numbered list approach ('Initially', 'Secondly', 'Afterwards', 'In fourth stage') rather than a cohesive summary of the process. While the main features are reported, the explanation of the scientific process is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'sides below between it touch leeward side', which lacks precision. To reach a higher band, you should focus on integrating these stages into a more fluid narrative that highlights the causal relationships between air moisture, elevation, and precipitation.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, but the internal structure is repetitive. The use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and forced, particularly the reliance on 'In the first stage', 'Secondly', 'Afterwards', etc. This creates a list-like feel rather than a natural flow of information. Additionally, some sentences are poorly connected, such as 'Where all dry winds gathered and make rain shadow desert', which is a sentence fragment that disrupts the logical progression. Improving the use of linking phrases and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'kind of phases' and 'touch mountains', which are not ideal for a scientific description. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'rain falls start heavily' instead of 'heavy rainfall occurs'. While you successfully use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'coastal', 'moist', 'windward', and 'leeward', the overall range is limited. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated verbs and nouns related to geographical processes, such as 'precipitate', 'condensation', or 'topographical barrier'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('winds are flow', 'rain falls start'), incorrect word forms ('formation a rain shadow desert'), and punctuation errors (unnecessary spaces before commas). The sentence structures are mostly simple or contain errors when attempting complexity, such as 'Which is starting from sea or coast area and end with mix into inland'. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subjects and verbs agree, and avoiding the misuse of relative clauses.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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