Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

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 one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, mountains have been widely expanded to thousand of kilometers . During the formation of that desert this process happens through mountains. Wind is been pushed upward from the sea and then after some process rain falls at the top of mountain and then dry winds reach inland areas.

Firstly, on windward side of mountain, wind from the sea approaches coast and then wind is pushed upwards on mountains. Furthermore, after that moist air cools and then rises to form clouds. After that rain falls on top of mountain.

Secondly, on leeward side of mountain, after that rain dry air continues over mountain and then that type of wind reaches inland areas. Through this process rain shadow-desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While the response identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation, the description is somewhat superficial. The overview is weak, as it focuses on the size of mountains rather than the core meteorological process. The explanation of the process is accurate but lacks the necessary detail and development required for a higher band. To improve, you must expand on the description of the stages, perhaps by mentioning the specific temperature changes or the contrast between the windward and leeward sides in more detail to ensure the response is sufficiently developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is repetitive and mechanical. Phrases like 'After that' and 'and then' are used excessively, which makes the flow feel somewhat simplistic. While there is a clear progression from the windward side to the leeward side, the lack of varied linking words limits the sophistication of the text. To improve, try using a wider range of transition signals such as 'consequently,' 'subsequently,' or 'in contrast' to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You have successfully used some topic-specific terms like 'windward,' 'leeward,' 'moist air,' and 'inland areas.' However, there is a lack of variety, and some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'mountains have been widely expanded.' The range of vocabulary is limited, which prevents a higher score. To improve, incorporate more precise academic vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'precipitation,' 'atmospheric conditions,' or 'arid,' rather than relying on simple descriptive words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For example, 'Wind is been pushed' is incorrect passive voice construction, and 'thousand of kilometers' should be 'thousands of kilometers.' Additionally, there are missing articles throughout the text, such as 'at top of mountain' instead of 'at the top of the mountain.' While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. Focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve your accuracy.

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

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