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 image given illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert. It represents the the whole process involved in establishing the desert. We can easily be understood by the way of explaining of desert. There is a sea at the bottom left of the mountain from which when wind passes it is being pushed by the direction of structure of mountain pointing upwards. When wind reaches the altitude where weather is cold is then mixed with moisture. This is the area belongs to windward side, where wind is pushed upward and then making clouds filled with water so at the highest altitude or on the top of mountain rain initiates it's process in a extremely cold weather. After that, on the right side of mountain which called the Leeward side the wind fluctuates by some kind of pressure and alters it's behavior and turned down to be dry. And, as we can see from picture that at the right of mountain there is an inland area which comes in the shadow of mountain. Because, this place is inside the mountain. And at this point of completion, rain-shadow desert is formed and totally established.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the windward side, the mountain barrier, and the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear overview or summary of the process as a whole. The explanation of the mechanism is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'we can easily be understood by the way of explaining of desert,' which does not contribute to the task. To improve, focus on a more concise, objective description of the stages, ensuring the relationship between moisture, altitude, and the rain-shadow effect is explained with greater precision and clarity.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The response lacks paragraphing, which is essential for organizing a report. While there is a basic chronological flow, the transition between ideas is often mechanical or awkward, such as the use of 'After that' and 'And, as we can see'. The referencing is sometimes confusing, particularly when describing the location of the desert. The lack of clear logical progression and the absence of paragraph breaks make the text feel like a single, dense block of information. Using clear paragraphing to separate the introduction, the windward process, and the leeward outcome would significantly improve the structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice, such as 'establishing the desert' instead of 'forming the desert' and 'rain initiates it's process'. The use of 'it's' (a contraction of 'it is') is also inappropriate for an academic report, where formal, full forms are expected. While the student attempts to use technical terms like 'windward' and 'leeward', the overall range is restricted, and the errors in collocation occasionally hinder the flow of information.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors, including issues with article usage ('the the whole process'), subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure. Many sentences are clunky or grammatically incomplete, such as 'This is the area belongs to windward side'. There is a reliance on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors that impede clarity. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the misuse of apostrophes in possessives and contractions. A greater focus on sentence construction and proofreading for basic errors is necessary.

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