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 figure illustrates the process of formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, rain-shadow desert formation is a 7-step linear process, travelling of air across thousands of kilometers during this rain falls down due to the winds from the coast then the dry air reaches the inland areas. As a result, rain-shadow desert is made.

During step 1-5, air from the sea reached the coast and is pushed upwards of the mountain and becomes moist. This moist air travels towards the peak of the mountain on the windward side resulting in the formation of clouds. At the peak of the mountain rains comes down from the clouds made from the moist air on the windward side.

After the rain the movement of air continues over to the leeward side in the step 6, this movement continues until the dry air has arrived on the inland areas travelling a large distance. This results in the formation on rain-shadow desert.

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 movement of air from the coast to the inland areas. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of the '7-step' process is not clearly linked to the visual evidence, and the distinction between the windward and leeward sides could be more precisely articulated. While the main features are reported, the analysis lacks a cohesive summary of the climatic shift (from moist to dry) that defines the process. To improve, ensure that the relationship between altitude, moisture, and the resulting desert environment is more explicitly connected to the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs, which provides a logical structure. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'As a result', 'During step 1-5', and 'After the rain', though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the coast to the mountain peak and finally to the inland area. However, the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the mention of 'step 6' without a clear preceding sequence of steps 1-5 in the body text. Improving the flow between sentences would enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'moist air' correctly. However, there is a lack of variety and some awkward phrasing, such as 'rains comes down' instead of 'precipitation occurs' or 'rainfall'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to geography and meteorology, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions', to demonstrate a more sophisticated control of language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as 'process of formation of a rain-shadow desert' (clunky phrasing), 'travelling of air' (incorrect gerund usage), and 'pushed upwards of the mountain' (preposition error). Additionally, 'rains comes down' shows a subject-verb agreement error. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on accurate verb forms and preposition usage will significantly improve the quality of your writing.

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

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