Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-24
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 given picture illustrates the information about the formation of rain shadow deserts.
Overall, there are several steps included to make Rain shadow desert, it includes from very begining from winds approached to the coast then rain falls due to moisture in the air and then the rain falls over the mountain to dry winds that reached to inlands areas.
Firstly, the winds approached to the coast then the winds pushed upwards to the mountains that is spread thousands of kilometres wide. Moreover the winds converted into moist air that were gradually rises and cool down after some period and then it would be converted into clouds form. In addition, these clouds were spread rain over the mountain.
Furthermore, the dry air continues to flow over the leeward side of the mountain and then these dry winds reached to the inland areas of the mountain that will result the 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 | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial approach of winds to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks precision in technical terminology. While the overall process is clear, the summary of the 'main features' could be more analytical. For instance, the distinction between the windward and leeward sides is mentioned but not fully exploited to explain the contrast in precipitation. The response meets the minimum length requirement, but the development of ideas is slightly thin, bordering on a simple list of steps rather than a cohesive summary of a scientific process.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, some of these transitions feel mechanical or slightly forced. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'these dry winds reached to the inland areas of the mountain that will result the rain shadow desert', where the connection between the wind and the resulting desert could be more fluidly expressed. Overall, the progression is logical, but the flow between sentences could be improved for better cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands. Phrases like 'very begining', 'pushed upwards', and 'converted into clouds form' are somewhat simplistic or slightly unnatural in a scientific context. There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'inlands areas' instead of 'inland areas'. To reach a higher band, the student should incorporate more specific terminology related to meteorology or geography, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'orographic lift', or 'leeward side', to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the subject matter.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'winds approached to the coast' (incorrect preposition), 'that were gradually rises' (incorrect verb form), and 'these clouds were spread rain' (incorrect tense/voice). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning remains generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from achieving a higher band. More attention to verb tenses and prepositional usage is required to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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