Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 illustration gives information about how a particular type of desert called a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process follows a linear, multi-stage sequence that begins with winds from the sea, which approach to the coastal area and it ends with dry winds reaching inland area to form a rain-shadow desert.

In the initial stage, wind which comes from the sea, approach to coastal area then pushed upward to be cooled at the next juncture. Once the wind is cooled down and moist air risen, it begins to form clouds, which will be converted into rainfalls. All these stages had been implemented on the windward side of the mountain.

Afterwards, dry winds continoues over mountain on the leeward side and goes down. After the foot of the mountain has been reached by dry winds, they start to form rain-shadow desert. The total distance that has been covered is thousands of kiliometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial wind movement to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. You have successfully identified the key features, such as the windward and leeward sides of the mountain. However, the description is somewhat basic and lacks a more detailed analysis of the physical changes occurring at each stage, such as the specific temperature drop or the moisture content of the air. To improve, ensure you provide a more comprehensive overview of the process by linking the stages more explicitly to the visual data provided. The summary is accurate but could benefit from more precise terminology regarding the atmospheric conditions described in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, following the linear sequence of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Afterwards', and 'Once', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the sentence 'All these stages had been implemented on the windward side' is slightly awkward in its phrasing. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear focus will help elevate your score in this criterion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'linear', 'multi-stage', 'coastal area', and 'leeward side'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'continoues' (continues) and 'kiliometers' (kilometers). Additionally, some phrases are slightly unnatural, such as 'approach to the coastal area' (should be 'approach the coastal area') and 'at the next juncture'. To achieve a higher band, focus on using more precise scientific vocabulary related to weather processes and ensure that your spelling and collocations are accurate. Expanding your range of synonyms will also help avoid repetition.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. However, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For instance, 'wind... approach to coastal area' lacks proper subject-verb agreement and article usage. The phrase 'moist air risen' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'moist air rises' or 'has risen'. There are also issues with tense consistency, such as 'All these stages had been implemented'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement, correct verb tenses, and the proper use of articles.

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.