Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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 process diagram presents the formation of desert called rain-shadow desert

Overall, rain-shadow desert is formed through a series of processes like wind aproaching from the sea, it is then pushed upward from on the windward side of mountain that creates the rain on that side where as after the rain the dry wind is pushed down to the in land though the other side of the mountain which creates the desert.

the process of rain-shadow desert begins from the sea where wind starts to moving towards the coast. Those winds are pushed upward when it strikes the mountain. when the wind is pushed upward it begins to cool down and vapours start to form tiny rain drops which create rain. after rain fall the wind becomes dry and it starts to go down towards the inland

the mountain side on which the moist wind flows upward is known as windward side where as the other side on which dry air passes is called leaward side. when the moiture air becomes dry and comes down to inland it forms dry due to which forms the desert which is called rain-shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, identifying the windward and leeward sides and the transition from moist to dry air. However, the overview is somewhat repetitive and lacks a clear, concise summary of the overall mechanism. While the key features are present, the description of the process could be more analytical by focusing on the transformation of the air mass rather than just listing the steps. The response addresses the prompt adequately but lacks the precision and professional tone expected for a high-band academic report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'when the wind...', 'after the rain...'). There is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect the stages of the process smoothly. Furthermore, the punctuation is inconsistent, with several sentences starting with lowercase letters, which disrupts the flow and makes the text feel less professional. Improved paragraph transitions and more varied linking phrases would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moisture', and 'vapours'. However, there are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'wind starts to moving' instead of 'starts to move' and 'it forms dry due to which forms the desert'. These errors occasionally hinder the clarity of the explanation. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise collocations and ensuring that technical terms are integrated into grammatically correct sentences.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are attempts at complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors, such as 'wind aproaching from the sea, it is then pushed upward'. There are frequent issues with subject-verb agreement, article usage, and capitalization. The lack of control over basic punctuation and sentence boundaries is a significant weakness. To improve, you should practice constructing more complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions and ensure that your basic grammar, particularly verb tenses and articles, is more consistent.

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

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