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 scheme provided shows the process of the formation of the specific type of desert - the rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the process contains seven stages during which the winds from the sea go up to the top of the mountain where the rain clouds forms, and over the mountain, drying and forming the desert.

In the beginning of the process, winds from the sea blow towards the coast, where they are pushed upwards. Then they go up the mountain, cooling and forming the rain clouds. Then the rain falls on the windward side of the mountain, back to sea.

In terms of winds, they reach a peak of the mountain and fall into the continent. During their way on the leeward side, they are drying and forming ideal conditions for the appearing of the desert. As the rain clouds stay on the windward side, the wet wind cannot appear there, thus the desert is being formed in the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the wind movement, moisture loss, and the resulting arid conditions. However, the description lacks precision in referencing the specific labels or geographical features shown in the diagram (e.g., windward vs. leeward slopes are mentioned, but the explanation of the 'rain shadow' itself is somewhat simplistic). While the main features are reported, the summary could be more analytical by explicitly contrasting the moisture levels on either side of the mountain range to better highlight the 'rain-shadow' effect. The overview is present but could be more detailed regarding the causal relationship between the mountain barrier and the lack of precipitation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving from an introduction to the process stages. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the initial wind movement from the later stages of desert formation. Cohesive devices such as 'In the beginning', 'Then', and 'In terms of' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing of 'they' and 'the process' is occasionally repetitive. The flow is generally clear, but the connection between the rain falling on the windward side and the subsequent dryness on the leeward side could be more smoothly integrated to improve the overall progression.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moisture', and 'arid' (implied) being appropriate for a process description. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'the appearing of the desert' and 'the wet wind cannot appear there'. Using 'appearing' is not natural in this context; 'formation' or 'development' would be more precise. The student relies on basic verbs like 'go up' and 'fall', which could be replaced with more technical alternatives like 'ascend', 'precipitate', or 'descend' to demonstrate a higher level of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the rain clouds forms' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'the wet wind cannot appear there' (awkward phrasing). The use of articles is occasionally inconsistent, for example, 'reach a peak of the mountain' should be 'reach the peak of the mountain'. While the meaning is generally clear and the errors do not impede communication, the range of complex structures is limited, and the control over grammar is not consistent enough to reach a higher band.

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

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