Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26

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 about a particular desert called rain-shadow desert and how it is made.

Overall, the diagram depicts total seven steps in which sea converts the rain into dry winds.

Initially, winds come across at the coast of sea , then it went upwards in the direction of mountains where moist air rises and clouds formation occurs. Then rain falls on the mountains. Dry air comes in the downward direction over mountains and lastly dry winds hit the inland areas and rain-shadow deserts are formed. The arrow at the bottom represents the thousands of kilometers gives the information about the distance that how long it takes to form a rain-shadow desert. It is noticeable that when winds go in upward direction they are moist and when they go downwards, the evaporation process occurs and they convert into dry winds. In that way , inlands are formed also known as rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial wind movement to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the process as a whole. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the 'evaporation process' is scientifically inaccurate based on the provided diagram, which shows moisture loss through precipitation rather than evaporation. The response would benefit from more precise terminology and a more structured approach to highlighting the key stages of the cycle, rather than simply listing them sequentially.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into a brief introduction and a body paragraph. While there is a logical sequence to the description, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'and then', 'lastly'). The paragraphing is insufficient; a report of this nature should ideally separate the overview from the detailed process description. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to show the relationship between the stages of the rain-shadow formation.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'illustrates about' (which should be 'illustrates') and 'coast of sea' (which should be 'seacoast' or 'coast'). The use of 'total seven steps' is slightly unnatural. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'moist air' and 'inland areas', the range is limited. To improve, the student should focus on more accurate collocations and avoid redundant phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'winds come across at the coast of sea' (missing articles), 'it went upwards' (tense inconsistency, as the process is a general truth), and 'distance that how long it takes' (clunky syntax). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage is recommended.

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

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