Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01

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 the process of rainfall over one type of desert. Overall, the whole process consist of seven stages begining with coastal air and ending up with winds lead to inland area. Meanwhile, the desert has divided into two sides, windward side and leeward side, based on the rain proportion on both that contains thousands of kilometer distance.

At windward side, first of all, the winds approach at coast from sea. After that, the moist air become cools and rises after being pushed upwards. Then, the condensation of moist air convert it into clouds . Subsequently, the clouds become heavy due to water droplets and they fall in the form of rain over rain shadow desert.

Moving toward the leeward slide, which is dry becuase it recieves little or no rainfall. Nevertheless, the dry air continues over mountain in next stage. At last, the dry winds reach 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 windward and leeward sides. However, the description is somewhat superficial. The student mentions 'seven stages' but does not clearly delineate them, and the explanation of the physical process lacks precision (e.g., 'moist air become cools'). While the main features are reported, the comparison between the two sides could be more analytical. The summary is functional but lacks the depth required for a higher band, as some technical aspects of the diagram are simplified to the point of losing clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into three paragraphs, which is appropriate for a short report. There is a logical progression from the general overview to the windward side and finally the leeward side. Cohesive devices such as 'first of all', 'after that', 'subsequently', and 'nevertheless' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the phrase 'in next stage' which lacks an article. Overall, the information is easy to follow, but the flow could be smoother with more varied linking phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'condensation', 'moist air', and 'windward/leeward'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and minor errors, such as 'the whole process consist' (should be 'consists') and 'the desert has divided' (should be 'is divided'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic verbs like 'become' and 'reach'. To achieve a higher score, the student should incorporate more precise scientific terminology and ensure better control over word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('process consist'), incorrect verb forms ('moist air become cools'), and missing articles ('at coast', 'over mountain'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates an attempt at complex structures, but the accuracy is inconsistent. More attention to basic grammar rules and proofreading for small errors would improve the score.

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

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