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 how the rain-shadow desert has formed.

Overall, the desert has gone through 7 stages starting from winds approaching coast and ending with dry winds reach inland areas to form its current state. It goes through all the stages covering thousands of kilometers to form the desert.

The first and the primary stage of the desert formation is winds approaching the coast from the sea and then pushing it upwards through the mountain. In the third stage the winds raise their temperature and cools down to form moist air which helps the formation of clouds in the fourth stage.

The clouds then start to rain over the mountain and the dry air continuous to flow along the leeward side of the mountain. In the seventh and the final stage the dry wind reaches the inland areas helping the formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is somewhat superficial. You mention '7 stages' but do not clearly explain the scientific mechanism behind the rain-shadow effect, such as the cooling of air as it rises or the loss of moisture on the windward side. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed summary of the process shown in the diagram and ensure the response meets the length requirement to fully develop the key features.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph. While there is a logical progression, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical. For instance, you use 'The first and the primary stage' and 'In the seventh and the final stage' to sequence the information. However, the transition between the overview and the body paragraph is abrupt. To improve, use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that each paragraph has a clear focus, perhaps by grouping the stages of the process more effectively rather than listing them numerically.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic verbs like 'formed', 'pushing', and 'helps'. There are also some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'winds raise their temperature' (which is scientifically incorrect in this context, as air cools as it rises). To achieve a higher score, incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to meteorology and geography, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'leeward', 'windward', and 'arid'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that affect clarity, such as 'the rain-shadow desert has formed' (should be 'is formed') and 'winds approaching coast' (missing an article). Additionally, 'dry air continuous to flow' contains a word-class error (should be 'continues'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles to improve the accuracy of your writing.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.