Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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 diagram illustrates the various stages involved in the rain-shadow desert formed through one type of desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with wind which approach from coast and ending with dry winds reach to inland areas.

Initially, the winds approach to coast from sea. This is followed by winds pushed upwards, during which flow of winds goes through mountains by windward side. Once this has been completed, moisture in the air is rises and cools the air. Subsequently, through this formation of clouds is occurring in it.

The next stage involves rain fall. Following this, air get dry and continues to over the mountain by leeward side. after which dry winds reach inland areas through air flow downward side on the right side of the mountain. Finally, wind flow from coast to inland area with thousands of kilometers, resulting in the rain-shadow desert is processed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, identifying the key progression from the coast to the inland area. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and relies heavily on listing steps rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive summary. While the main features are present, the explanation of the process lacks depth; for instance, the relationship between the windward and leeward sides is mentioned but not fully explained in terms of the physical impact on the environment. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the contrast between the two sides of the mountain.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response uses some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' to signal the progression of the process. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped, with the bulk of the information squeezed into a single paragraph. The flow between sentences is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'Once this has been completed, moisture in the air is rises', which disrupts the logical progression. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the transition between the stages of cloud formation and rainfall feels mechanical rather than fluid.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'winds', 'air', and 'mountain'. Phrases such as 'rain-shadow desert is processed' are unnatural and indicate a limited grasp of collocations. While the student attempts to use technical terms like 'windward' and 'leeward', the surrounding language is often simplistic or grammatically incorrect, which limits the ability to convey the process with sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'wind which approach from coast' (subject-verb agreement), 'moisture in the air is rises' (incorrect verb form), and 'air get dry and continues to over the mountain' (missing verb/preposition issues). There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the complex attempts are often faulty. Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequent errors in tense and word order suggest a lack of control over more complex grammatical structures.

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

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