Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12

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 the steps involved in the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is a multi-linear process which included seven steps, starts when the winds approch the coast of the sea and ends when the dry winds reach inland areas of the mountain. Moreover, this process covers a long distance of thousands of kilometres.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts starts when the winds approch the coast of the sea and then these winds are pushed upwards. It is followed by the formation of clouds, once moist air rises and cools down. After the cloud formation, the rain starts falling. All these steps happened in the windward side of the mountains in the upward direction.

After the rain fall, the air becomes dry and this dry air continues over the mountains in the leeward side towards downward direction. The dry winds then reach the inland areas forming the Rain-shadow desert here.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by reporting the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation diagram. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, stating that it is a multi-step process beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland mountain areas. Key stages such as moist air rising, cloud formation, precipitation on the windward side, and dry air descending on the leeward side are all clearly outlined and sequenced. While the description is somewhat concise, all essential steps from the visual prompt are covered accurately, allowing the response to comfortably meet the requirements of a Band 6.5 or solid 6.0 descriptor.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression of ideas that mirrors the linear sequence of the diagram. The student uses basic cohesive devices adequately to connect stages, such as 'Overall', 'Once', 'After the cloud formation', and 'After the rain fall'. Paragraphing is utilised sufficiently to separate the introduction and overview from the detailed body stages. However, referencing and transitions can occasionally feel a bit mechanical or repetitive in their structure. Despite these minor flaws in cohesion, the logical flow is maintained throughout the text and does not impede readability, aligning well with Band 6.0 criteria.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student employs an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully using subject-specific terms such as 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland areas'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice inaccuracies, such as writing 'approch' instead of 'approach' and 'multi-linear' instead of 'linear'. Furthermore, expressions like 'rain fall' should be written as a single word ('rainfall'). While the student attempts less common lexical items, these minor errors and limitations in range place the vocabulary securely within the Band 6.0 descriptor range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination and relative clauses, such as 'once moist air rises and cools down' and 'which included seven steps, starts when...'. However, there are several grammatical and tense-consistency errors throughout the text. For instance, there is a shift in tense ('included' instead of 'includes', 'starts', 'happened' instead of 'happen'), and missing articles or prepositions in phrases like 'over the mountains in the leeward side towards downward direction'. Despite these recurring errors, they rarely impede communication, reflecting the characteristics of a Band 6.0 performance.

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

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