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 shows the creation of rain-shadow deserts which are in total 7 satges.

In the first stage, as we can see above sea level the winds approach to the coast after being approached. In the second stage, these winds push to the upwards direction. After that these winds turn into moist air rises and cool near the Windward side. In the next stage, these are turned into clouds form above the windward side area. Then the rain fall occurs at the top of the mountain.

In the next stage, after the rain fall dry air continues over mountain and then drop towards the leeward side. Once it has been reached at the leeward side, dry winds are continued to drop and reached to inland areas.

To sum up, it would be quite interesting to note that the formation of rain-shadow deserts method has 7 stages from approaching the winds towards the coast to reaching the dry winds to the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole. While you identify the stages, the explanation of the scientific mechanism (the rain-shadow effect) is slightly underdeveloped. For example, the transition from 'moist air' to 'dry air' is mentioned, but the underlying cause—the loss of moisture during the ascent—could be explained more clearly to show a better understanding of the diagram. The summary at the end is repetitive rather than synthesising the key features of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat repetitive and mechanical, relying heavily on 'In the next stage' and 'After that'. The flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'Once it has been reached at the leeward side'. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect the stages more fluidly, such as 'subsequently', 'consequently', or 'as a result'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic verbs like 'push', 'turn', and 'reached'. There are also some minor errors in collocation and word choice, such as 'upwards direction' (upward direction) and 'the rain fall occurs' (rainfall occurs). To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to the process, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', 'prevailing winds', and 'arid'.

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 distract the reader. Examples include 'winds approach to the coast after being approached' (which is confusing) and 'dry winds are continued to drop' (passive voice misuse). There are also issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice would significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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