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 below given pictorial diagram shows the process of the that how the rain-shadow desert has been formed.

Overall, the process starts with the winds approach coast line of the sea and air overpass the mountain from windward side to leeward side where at the end of the process dry wind reaches to the inland area.

starting with, the rain-shadow desert has been formed through the wind which approach to the coast line of the sea. in the connection of the sea there was the mountain where the wind travel upward, where the moist hot air converts into cold air. significantly this forms the clouds at the middle of the mountain.

in continuation, after the clouds formed the rain begin onto the mountain. afterwards the dry air continues to come downwards over mountain through leeward side. at the end, dry air approaches to the inland area where the converted into the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the moist air approaching the mountain to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For instance, the explanation of the air cooling and cloud formation is quite basic. While the main features are identified, the comparison between the windward and leeward sides could be more clearly articulated to show a deeper understanding of the diagram. The summary is functional but lacks the analytical depth expected for a high-scoring Academic Task 1 response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'starting with' and 'in the connection of the sea' are awkward and do not flow naturally. The referencing is sometimes unclear, particularly in the final paragraph where the transition between the dry air and the resulting desert is abrupt. While there is an overall progression, the lack of sophisticated linking words and the repetitive sentence structure limit the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic terms like 'process', 'formed', and 'air'. There are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'pictorial diagram', 'air overpass', and 'in the connection of the sea'. These errors occasionally make the meaning slightly unclear. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise scientific terminology related to weather patterns and geography, such as 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions', rather than relying on general-purpose vocabulary that does not accurately describe the technical nature of the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that affect the clarity of the writing. There are issues with article usage ('the mountain', 'the sea'), tense consistency, and sentence structure. For example, 'the process of the that how the rain-shadow desert has been formed' is ungrammatical and confusing. Many sentences are simple or contain errors in word order and preposition use, such as 'rain begin onto the mountain'. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents the response from reaching a higher band score.

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

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