Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-10

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 demonstrates the formation of one type of desert named as Rain-Shadow desert.

Overall, the process involves seven various steps beginning with the winds approaching the coast from sea level to reaching the inland and forming Rain-shadow desert. Winds go in upward direction and rain fall over a mountain and air continues over mountain and reach the inland area.

At the sea level, winds approach the coast and follows an upward direction over a windward side of the mountain. The moist air rises and cools continuously, resulting in the formation of cloud. When the cloud reaches to the top of the mountain, it begins to rain. Similarly, dry air continues in descending order in leeward side of the mountain. After the continuous process the dry winds reaches the inland areas. Furthermore, the Rain-Shadow desert is visible in the inland after crossing thousands of kilometers from coast to inland passing through mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

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 description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview. While the process is outlined, the connection between the cooling of air and the specific geographical outcome (the desert) could be more effectively synthesized. The summary is accurate, but it relies heavily on listing steps rather than providing a cohesive report of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure the overview highlights the causal relationship between the mountain barrier and the resulting arid climate more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into a logical sequence, moving from the coast to the inland area. Paragraphing is used, though the structure is somewhat basic. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Similarly', and 'Overall' are used to link ideas, but some transitions feel slightly forced or repetitive. The progression of information is clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers and better referencing to avoid repetitive phrasing like 'the mountain' or 'the inland'.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moist', and 'descending' used correctly to describe the process. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'named as Rain-Shadow desert' (should be 'known as a rain-shadow desert') and 'in upward direction' (should be 'in an upward direction'). Expanding the range of descriptive verbs and nouns would enhance the precision of the report.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('the' rain-shadow desert, 'the' sea level) and awkward phrasing ('winds reaches', 'follows an upward direction'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The use of complex sentences is attempted, but control over prepositions and subject-verb agreement needs improvement to ensure the writing is consistently accurate.

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

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