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 how rain-desert is formed as air passes through mountain range.

Overall, the process consist of seven stages starting with winds approaching coast and ended with formation of rain-shadow desert. Moist air rise, cool, and then rain occur at windward side while leaving the moisture behind, air become dry and descends on leeward side.

Initially, wind approaching coast, pushed upward. It rises, and cools . Clouds formed when air reached at higher part of mountain, rain falls on the windward side.

After the rainfall, dry become dry and continue to move towards leeward side. It then descends, becomes more warmer and dryer. Finally, dry winds reach the inland area, where a rain-shadow desert in formed.

Thus, the formation of rain shadow desert occur because moist air loose its moisture become dry at windward side, leaving dry air to reach the inland side where rain show desert is formed.

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 final formation of the desert. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, sophisticated overview of the key features. While the main points are identified, the explanation of the physical process—specifically the transition from moist to dry air—could be more precise. The summary is accurate but lacks the depth of analysis required for a higher band, as it relies on simple restatements of the diagram's stages rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive scientific explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally awkward, such as 'Thus, the formation of rain shadow desert occur'. There is also some repetition of ideas, which hinders the flow. While the progression of the process is logical, the transition between sentences could be smoother. The use of referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure feels a bit disjointed due to the repetitive nature of the phrasing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There are several instances of word-choice errors, such as 'becomes more warmer' (a double comparative) and 'moist air loose its moisture' (should be 'loses'). The range of vocabulary is limited to basic terms like 'dry', 'moist', and 'rain'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to meteorology and geography, such as 'precipitation', 'evaporation', 'prevailing winds', or 'arid conditions'.

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 the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('process consist', 'rain occur', 'dry become dry') and incorrect verb forms ('in formed'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary commas and missing articles. 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 consistent tense usage would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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

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