Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25

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 steps involved in forming a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the rain-shadow desert depicted seven different stages, began from winds at coastal areas which caused heavy rainfall, subsequently dried wind passed through mountains, reached at inland areas and finally, formed rain-shadow desert.

In detail, it can be observed that sea-coastal area and rain-shadow desert had significant distance of thousands of kilometers. The process beginning from the sea-winds which usually comes from sea, that gradually pushed upward sides of mountains. While approaching upward, the moist air constantly rose and became extremely cold that finally formed clouds which caused rain falls. Furthermore, dry air continued over mountain towards leeward side, afterwards reached inland areas and formed rain-shadow desert.

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 task achievement. While you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is underdeveloped. You mention 'seven different stages' but do not clearly delineate or explain these in the body paragraphs. The overview is present but lacks sufficient detail to fully convey the process described in the diagram. To improve, you must expand on the specific mechanisms, such as the cooling of air and the specific transition from moist to dry air, to ensure all parts of the task are fully addressed and the length requirement is met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay has a basic logical flow, moving from an introduction to a description of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'subsequently', 'furthermore', 'afterwards'). Paragraphing is present, but the body paragraph is quite dense and could be better structured to separate the different phases of the desert formation. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas. Increasing the length would allow for more sophisticated linking of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You use basic terms like 'sea-winds', 'heavy rainfall', and 'dry air'. While these are accurate, there is little attempt to use more sophisticated or academic vocabulary related to geography or meteorology (e.g., 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', 'leeward side', 'orographic lift'). There are also some minor awkward phrasings, such as 'reached at inland areas' (should be 'reached inland areas') and 'rain falls' (should be 'rainfall'). Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary will enhance your score.

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 impede clarity. For example, 'began from winds' should be 'beginning with winds', and 'reached at inland areas' is grammatically incorrect. There are also issues with article usage and tense consistency, such as 'process beginning from the sea-winds which usually comes from sea'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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