Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-31

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 given diagram illustrates how air moves from sea to inland areas by following 7 stages.

Overall, this process consists of seven stages, starting from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas. The key stages are moist air rising and cooling, clouds formation on windward side, rain fall at the top of mountain and dry air moving over mountain and reaching at inland areas to becomes rain-shadow desert.

In the beginning, the formation starting from winds approaching the coast and pushed it upwards, following this moist air rising and cooling towards mountain. Furthermore, clouds formation on windward side and after that rain falls on peek. In the sixth stage, dry air continues over the mountain along the leeward side and reaching at inland areas to become rain-shadow desert. To summarize. this is how air moves from sea level to land areas and it becomes rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks the depth required for a higher band. You have successfully selected the key features, such as the moist air rising and the leeward side effect, but the explanation of the process is quite brief. To improve, ensure you expand on the descriptions of each stage and provide a more detailed overview of the transition from sea to inland, ensuring you comfortably exceed the word count minimum to allow for a full development of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into three short paragraphs, which provides a basic structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical (e.g., 'In the beginning', 'Furthermore', 'after that'). The flow between sentences is occasionally disjointed, particularly in the final paragraph where the sentence structure becomes fragmented. To improve, try to use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences are connected more fluidly to guide the reader through the process. The paragraphing is present but could be more effectively used to separate the overview from the detailed process description.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You use terms like 'stages', 'moving', and 'reaching' multiple times. There is a lack of more precise, academic vocabulary that would better describe a geographical process (e.g., 'prevailing winds', 'precipitation', 'arid', 'leeward'). Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'clouds formation' instead of 'cloud formation' and 'rain fall at the top' instead of 'precipitation occurs at the summit'. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary will significantly enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'the formation starting from' (should be 'starts'), 'pushed it upwards' (the subject is unclear), and 'reaching at inland areas' (incorrect preposition). The sentence structures are relatively simple, and there is a lack of complex sentence forms. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequent errors in verb tense and preposition usage prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentence structures will help improve your accuracy and range.

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

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