Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 given diagram illustrates the process of formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is a natural, 7-staged and linear process. The initial step is the blowing of winds from coast on one side, whereas the last step is the blowing of dry air on inland areas on the other side of mountain.

To begin with, the process firstly started at the seaside of mountain, coast side winds approach to mountain and then started moving upwards. The windward side of mountain consists of the next step of rising and cooling of moist air. Then the main process of clouds formation takes place. At the top of mountains, the heavily rain started.

Furthermore, the next steps taken on the inland side of mountain, which is about thousands of kilometers far from seaside. After rain, the dry air continues to blow over mountains at the leeward side. Moisture less airs reach to the inland, which contributes to no rain. Hence, the formation of Rain-shadow desert takes place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial moisture-laden winds to the final rain-shadow effect. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks precision in reporting the technical details shown in the diagram. For instance, the mention of 'thousands of kilometers' is not supported by the diagram, which is a minor inaccuracy. The overview is clear, but the development of the stages could be more analytical by focusing on the relationship between altitude, temperature, and precipitation levels rather than just listing steps. To reach a higher band, ensure that all information provided is strictly derived from the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas follows the sequence of the diagram effectively. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Hence' are used to link sentences and paragraphs. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the phrase 'the next steps taken on the inland side' is a bit awkward. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or non-standard collocations, such as 'moisture less airs' and 'heavily rain started'. While the meaning is generally clear, the range of vocabulary is limited to basic descriptive terms. To improve, you should focus on using more precise scientific terminology related to weather processes, such as 'prevailing winds', 'orographic lift', 'condensation', and 'arid conditions', rather than relying on simple descriptive phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that, while not impeding communication, are noticeable. Examples include 'process of formation of rain-shadow desert' (missing articles), 'the process firstly started' (tense inconsistency), and 'moisture less airs' (incorrect adjective usage). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering the use of articles and ensuring consistent verb tenses when describing a continuous natural process.

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