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 natural process of atmospheric changes by which a rain-shadow desert produced.

Overall, the process consists of seven major events in which the moist air from sea travels thousands of kilometers across mountains and then on inland areas to produced a rain shadow desert.

The moist air from sea travels towards the coast facing montains, where it is pushed upwards as the air moves upwards, As a result it's temperature drops and it start cooling. The more the air moves upward it expands and cool, consequently condesation and formation of clouds occur. The number of clouds increase as a result rain has started on the windward side. After that the air travels to summit and descends downwards.

The air that descends downwards the cliff is dry because the moisture was lost before in the windward site. After that, it goes towards the inland areas and reaches there, the amount of water that it contain lost almost, consequently this dry air travels thousands of kilometers along the inland areas with almost no rain produces the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully covers all the key stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process as depicted in the diagram, from the initial moist air rising over the coastal mountains to the descent of dry air inland. The overview statement effectively captures the main essence of the process by highlighting the seven major events and the final creation of the desert. The student correctly identifies the shift from moist air on the windward side to dry conditions on the leeward side. However, some aspects of the explanation are slightly repetitive, particularly when describing the descent of the air and its movement inland. Despite this minor limitation, all parts of the visual information are addressed accurately and clearly. This performance aligns well with the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological sequence of the diagram. Logical progression is attempted through chronological sequencing markers such as 'After that' and 'consequently'. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical, with repetitive use of transitional phrases ('After that', 'consequently'). Paragraphing is present, but the final body paragraph is somewhat dense and blends multiple stages together without optimal structuring. Referencing is mostly clear, though some run-on sentences hinder smooth flow. Overall, the organizational structure meets the criteria for a Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a scientific process, including terms like 'atmospheric changes', 'moist air', 'condensation', 'windward side', and 'descends'. There are, however, several word-choice and morphological errors throughout the text, such as 'is desert produced' instead of 'is produced', 'montains' (spelling error), 'condesation', and awkward phrasing like 'lost almost'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with varying degrees of accuracy. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication as the reader can still readily follow the intended meaning. This vocabulary profile corresponds to a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative clauses and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'where it is pushed upwards as the air moves upwards'). However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent structural errors and missing auxiliary verbs or inflections, such as 'rain-shadow desert produced', 'it start cooling', 'condesation and formation of clouds occur', and 'rain has started' (tense inconsistency). Punctuation errors are also present, including comma splices and run-on sentences. Because complex structures are often faulty and errors recur frequently across the text, a Band 5.0 is the most appropriate descriptor.

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

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