Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-13
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 atmospheric process by which a rain- shadow desert is produced.
Overall, the formation of a rain-shadow desert consists of seven main events. Moist air from the sea travelling towards mountainsbecause of the mountains barriers change course of movement along the steep slope of mountain results in cloud formation, rain falls on the windward side and dry air descends towards the leeward side to the inland areas. Moist air travels thousands of kilometers throughout the process.
The process starts with moist air from the sea side travels towards mountains. Air moves upward, As the air rises, causing it be cool and condense leading to formation of clouds. As there is subsequent increase in clouds, As a result precipitation occurs and started raining on the windward side of mountains. After that, the dry air rises towards the summit and moves across mountains.
The dry air then descends towards the leeward side with no moisture. This dry air renders the place to be arid, As the air travels thousands of kilometres inland areas. Eventually, the air with no rain and moisture leads to formation of the rain-shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The student successfully covers all the key stages in the formation of a rain-shadow desert, providing an overview and detailing the progression from moist air traveling from the sea, rising over mountains, precipitation on the windward side, and dry air descending on the leeward side. The main features are identified and reported appropriately. However, the overview sentence in the second paragraph contains slight run-on tendencies and dense listing ('Moist air from the sea travelling towards mountainsbecause of the mountains barriers change course...'), which affects the clarity of the overall summary slightly. Nonetheless, the task is well addressed, earning a solid Band 6.5.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to body paragraphs detailing the sequential steps of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate stages of the process. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Overall,' 'The process starts with,' 'After that,' and 'The dry air then descends,' which help guide the reader through the explanation. However, referencing and cohesive links are occasionally mechanical or slightly repetitive, and punctuation around transitions needs finer control. Overall coherence remains clear throughout, supporting a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating appropriate subject-specific terms such as 'precipitation,' 'moisture,' 'windward side,' 'leeward side,' and 'arid.' There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but word choice and collocation issues emerge, such as 'started raining' instead of 'resulting in rainfall' or 'started to rain,' and minor prepositional or phrasing awkwardness like 'the dry air rises towards the summit and moves across mountains.' While these errors do not impede communication, they reflect a Band 6.0 level.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over complex grammar is inconsistent. There are several structural errors and run-on constructions, particularly in the overview and second paragraph, such as 'travelling towards mountainsbecause of the mountains barriers change course' and 'As the air rises, causing it be cool and condense leading to formation of clouds.' Punctuation errors, such as comma splices ('Air moves upward, As the air rises...'), are also present. The frequency of these structural slips places this performance firmly at Band 5.5.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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