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 given diagram displays the diagrammatic illustartion of the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the moist wind from the coastal area blew upwards in atmosphere from where it condenses and results into formation of which leads to rainfall. Consequently, only dry wind reaches the opposite side and results into a rain-shadow desert.

The process is initiated by the eveporation of the air that blew from the sea towards the coast. Furthermore, this wind cools down and results into the formation of clouds. Resultantly, these clouds pour rain on windward side of a mountain.

Furthermore, the air continues to flow on Leeward side of mountain but this wind has lost most of its moisture and is dominantely dry. Consequently, this dry wind reaches to inland areas and the process commences with the formation of rain shadow desert owing to no humidity and dryness in atmosphere.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, identifying the windward and leeward sides of the mountain. However, the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the score. The description of the process is somewhat repetitive, and the explanation of the 'rain-shadow' effect could be more precise regarding the physical mechanism (the loss of moisture as air rises). Because the response is under-length, it cannot be awarded a higher band, as it does not fully develop the information provided in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive, with 'Furthermore' and 'Consequently' used frequently to link sentences. The paragraphing is also slightly disjointed due to inconsistent indentation. While the logical flow is generally clear, the lack of sophisticated transitions and the reliance on simple linking words limit the score. To improve, you should vary your cohesive devices and ensure that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range expected at higher levels. There are several spelling errors, such as 'illustartion' and 'eveporation', and some awkward collocations like 'blew upwards in atmosphere'. The use of 'dominantely' is also incorrect. While the student uses some relevant technical terms like 'windward' and 'leeward', the overall range is limited, and the errors in spelling and word choice are noticeable. Expanding your vocabulary to include more precise descriptive terms for meteorological processes would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. For example, 'results into formation of which leads to rainfall' is grammatically incomplete and confusing. There are also issues with article usage ('in atmosphere') and verb tense consistency. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction prevents a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of prepositions would be beneficial for future tasks.

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

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