Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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)

This diagram shows the process of formation of rain-shadow desert from a typical form of desert in seven stages across thousands of kilometres distance from coastal area to inland.

Overall, this diagram shows seven stages in which rain-shadow desert is formed.

First of all, at the coastal side wind is approached and then it moves upward through alongside the mountains. Then clouds are formed by rising of air and ultimately rain falls down.

After rainfall, dry air started to move downward over mountain and it reaches to inland areas.

In this way, when air moves downward its moisture gets separated and dry air reaches to inland areas and form rain-shadow desert. This whole process of wind movement , cloud formation and rainfall, and then movement of wind downward plays an important role in the formation of rain-shadow desert from a coastal area to inland in thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words. Because the response is under-length, it is penalized. Furthermore, the description is somewhat repetitive and lacks the analytical depth required for a high band score. While the main features are identified, the explanation of the process is quite basic and could have been more detailed regarding the specific climatic changes at each stage. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive summary that fully explores the data provided in the diagram while meeting the length requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into short paragraphs, which helps with readability. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'After', 'In this way'). The progression of ideas is logical, following the stages of the diagram, but the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. The paragraphing is adequate, but the overall structure feels a bit disjointed due to the brevity of the sentences. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is functional but limited. You rely on basic terms such as 'moves', 'formed', and 'process'. There is little attempt to use more precise, academic vocabulary related to geography or meteorology, which is expected for this type of task. For instance, instead of 'wind is approached', more precise terminology like 'prevailing winds encounter' would be more appropriate. To achieve a higher band, focus on incorporating topic-specific vocabulary and more varied collocations to describe the processes shown in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'wind is approached' is passive voice used incorrectly, and 'dry air started to move' shows inconsistent tense usage. There are also minor errors in article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall quality of the writing. To improve, focus on ensuring consistent verb tenses and refining your use of passive voice, which is essential for describing scientific processes.

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

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