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 diagram shows a type of desert and how the rain shadow desert is formed with the formation information.

First it starts from the coast level which is deep in the sea and the 1st stage is how the winds approaches coast from the sea levels and the 2nd stage is where these winds get pushed towards upsides to the Mountains where this air gets moist rises and cools. After that in the 4th stage air goes from windward side and passes through the clouds to the 5th stage where the clouds falls the rain on the peak of the Mountain.

In the stage 6th the Dry air continues over mountain to down side towards the leeward side and than creating a band towards the 7th stage where the Dry winds reaches the inland areas where the Rain-shadow desert is.

This is how a type of desert is known as a rain-shadow desert formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear overview. While the student identifies the stages, the summary does not effectively highlight the key comparison between the windward and leeward sides, which is essential for explaining the 'rain-shadow' phenomenon. The response focuses on listing the steps rather than synthesizing the information into a cohesive report. To improve, you should provide a clear introductory overview that summarizes the entire process and ensures the distinction between the moist windward side and the arid leeward side is emphasized.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is somewhat disjointed. The use of cohesive devices is limited and repetitive (e.g., 'First', 'After that', 'In the stage 6th'). The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the transition between the windward side and the leeward side. The paragraphing is present but does not effectively group the stages of the process logically. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear thematic focus would significantly enhance the flow of the writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'deep in the sea', 'upsides', and 'down side'. The student attempts to use technical terms like 'windward' and 'leeward', which is positive, but the overall range is limited. There are some awkward phrasings, such as 'clouds falls the rain', which indicates a lack of control over collocations. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to weather processes and avoid repetitive or informal phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'winds approaches' (subject-verb agreement), 'clouds falls the rain' (incorrect verb form), and 'than creating' (incorrect word choice). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with capitalization and comma usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage would be beneficial.

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.