Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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 process by which a rain-shadow desert formed followed by the on type of desert.

Overall, the process begins with the wind from the sea move towards a mountain range and ends when dry air reaches the inland areas, resulting in formation of rain-shadow desert.

Initially, winds from the sea approach the cost and are pushed upward towards the mountains. As the moist air rises along the windward side of the mountains, it cools and clouds begin to form. subsequently, rain falls in the windwards side of th mountain.

After the rain fall, the air becomes dry and continues over the mountain towards the leeward side. The dry air then moves down the mountain and continues towards the inlandareas. As a result, the area revieves very little and a rain shadow desert formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the moist air rising to the formation of the desert. However, the response is under the 150-word minimum, which significantly impacts the ability to fully develop the description. The overview is present but lacks detail, and the explanation of the process is somewhat brief. Because the word count requirement was not met, the response cannot be awarded a higher band for task achievement, as the information provided is insufficient to fully address the prompt's requirements for a comprehensive summary.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'subsequently', and 'After the rain fall' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by minor grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'the process by which a rain-shadow desert formed followed by the on type of desert'. While the progression is clear, the range of cohesive devices is somewhat limited, and the overall structure is quite simple.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, using terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', and 'leeward side' correctly. However, there are several spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'cost' instead of 'coast', 'th' instead of 'the', and 'revieves' instead of 'receives'. These errors are noticeable and detract from the professional tone required for an academic task. The range of vocabulary is limited, and the student relies on basic phrasing to describe the process rather than more precise academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'a rain-shadow desert formed' (missing auxiliary verb), 'the wind from the sea move' (subject-verb agreement), and 'inlandareas' (spacing error). Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of errors in basic sentence construction and verb tense consistency prevents the response from reaching a higher band. The grammar is sufficient to convey the general meaning, but the errors are persistent.

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

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