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 process diagram illustrates the 7-step process of formation of rain-shadow desert. Overall, the process begins by winds approaching from the sea, continues to form clouds, ultimately ending at inland producing rain-shadow desert after the process of drying.

The first step involves the winds approaching the coast from the sea, which are pushed upward the mountain. While rising, the moist air cools and results in cloud formation. After this step, rain starts to pour down from the clouds, just near the top of the mountains. Then, the dry air continues to move over the mountains. In the last step, dry winds reach the inland areas, finally forming the rain-shadow desert.

On the one hand, winds are pushed upwards along the Windward side of the mountain. While on the other hand, dry air continuous to move downward along the Leeward side of the mountains. The entire process starts from the sea winds and finishes off at the inland rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the sea winds to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. It successfully identifies the key features, such as the windward and leeward sides of the mountain. However, the description is somewhat repetitive, particularly in the third paragraph, which restates information already provided in the second. To reach a higher band, the response should integrate these details more fluidly rather than separating them into a distinct paragraph that adds little new information. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a summary. Cohesive devices such as 'The first step', 'After this step', and 'In the last step' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is weak; the third paragraph feels like an afterthought rather than a cohesive continuation of the process. The use of 'On the one hand' and 'While on the other hand' is slightly forced, as these phrases are typically used to contrast two opposing arguments rather than describing two sides of a mountain.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'moist air', 'windward', and 'leeward' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs such as 'pushed', 'moving', and 'starts'. There are also minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'approaching from the sea' (which is acceptable but could be more precise) and 'producing rain-shadow desert' (which lacks an article). To improve, the student should aim for more varied and sophisticated vocabulary to describe movement and atmospheric changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'process of formation of rain-shadow desert' (missing articles), 'pushed upward the mountain' (should be 'up the mountain'), and 'dry air continuous to move' (should be 'continues'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student should focus on article usage and verb forms to improve accuracy. The sentence variety is sufficient, but the control over complex structures needs more precision.

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