Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08
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 one type of desert, known as a rain shadow desert is formed. Overall the process is consist of a seven-steps process. The cycle is clearly showing how the process starts and how it ends.
Beginning the process, winds blow towards the coast before being forced upward over the windward side. Once winds are pushed upwards, they become moist air, which then rises further and cools in order to form clouds, which then produce rain. Upon completion of this stage, air loses its moisture and results in dry air, which then continues over the leeward side. Following this, the dry winds eventually reach inland areas, forming the rain-shadow desert.
To summarise this, the process is a natural one and does not require any human intervention. Furthermore, there is a sea, coast and inland between them mountains are located. The distance between coast and inland rain-shadow desert is of thousands of kilometres.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the overview is slightly inaccurate; the student claims it is a 'seven-step process,' yet the description provided does not clearly delineate seven distinct steps, making the overview somewhat confusing. While the main features are reported, the analysis lacks a degree of precision regarding the geographical components. The final paragraph introduces information that is not clearly depicted in the diagram, such as the 'thousands of kilometres' distance, which is an external assumption rather than a summary of the provided visual data. To improve, focus strictly on the information presented in the diagram and ensure the overview accurately reflects the core mechanism.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into three paragraphs, which is a logical structure for a report. The progression of ideas is generally clear, moving from the start of the process to the final outcome. Cohesive devices such as 'Beginning the process,' 'Once,' 'Upon completion,' and 'Furthermore' are used to link sentences. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the final paragraph feels disconnected from the main body, as it introduces new, unsupported information rather than synthesizing the previous points. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal flow could be improved by ensuring each sentence builds more naturally upon the previous one.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'windward side,' 'leeward side,' and 'moisture' used correctly. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'the process is consist of a seven-steps process,' which contains grammatical and lexical errors. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and relies on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise academic collocations related to geographical or meteorological processes, such as 'prevailing winds,' 'precipitation,' or 'arid conditions,' rather than relying on simpler, repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that hinder the fluency of the writing, such as 'the process is consist of' (should be 'consists of') and 'The cycle is clearly showing' (should be 'The cycle clearly shows'). Additionally, 'a seven-steps process' is incorrect; it should be 'a seven-step process.' While the meaning is generally clear and communication is not impeded, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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