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 visualisation below demonstrates the progressive formation of a unique type of desert known as rain-shadow.Which runs along the length of mountain that is thousands of kilometres.
Overall it is a linear process, comprising of seven ongoing steps commencing from the rise of winds over the ocean,forming clouds and terminating at reaching inland territories for the formation of rain shadow desert.
The process begins with the winds moving along the coast of ocean.Which are then forced in upward direction causing the rise and cooling of humid air as a result cloud are established and the process of condesation occurs in the 4th step.Followed by the precipitation process.It is noted that these steps occur along windward side.
Moving a head after rainfall had finished the air left with no moisture moves over the mountain on the leeward side.In the final stage the wind with no water in it ,as rainfall has previously occured,heads towards its destination which is the inland regions thus forming rain shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response covers the main features of the rain-shadow desert diagram, tracing the process from winds moving off the ocean to the formation of the desert on the leeward side. However, the explanation is somewhat superficial and misses some specific details from the stages shown in the prompt, such as the rain shadow label itself or the specific moisture levels. The overview provided in the second paragraph is quite general and relies on listing steps rather than fully synthesising the overall trend or mechanism. It addresses the task adequately by outlining the linear process, but the development of ideas remains limited and under-developed in places, placing it firmly at a Band 5.5 to 6.0 level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The response has an overall arrangement that attempts to follow the stages of the diagram logically, starting with the ocean winds and moving towards the inland region. However, paragraphing is somewhat erratic, with incomplete sentences functioning as standalone paragraphs (e.g., 'Which runs along the length of mountain...'). Cohesive devices are used mechanically or awkwardly, such as 'Moving a head after rainfall had finished', and referencing is occasionally unclear (e.g., using sentence fragments starting with relative pronouns like 'Which are then forced'). There is a lack of smooth transitions between the windward and leeward descriptions, leading to choppy progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary to describe a natural process, using terms such as 'progressive formation', 'condensation', 'precipitation', and 'leeward side'. However, there are notable spelling errors like 'condesation' and awkward lexical choices such as 'moving a head' instead of 'moving ahead'. Word formation and collocation are occasionally inaccurate, for instance, 'air left with no moisture moves over the mountain'. The range is sufficient to communicate the basic meaning, but frequent lexical slips restrict the score to a Band 5.5.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
Grammatical control is a significant weakness in this response. The text contains several major sentence boundary errors, notably sentence fragments starting with 'Which' (e.g., 'Which runs along the length...' and 'Which are then forced...'). Punctuation is frequently misused, with periods placed before conjunctions or cutting off dependent clauses. While there are some attempts at complex structures, they are often faulty or incorrectly punctuated, causing difficulty for the reader and impeding smooth comprehension. Simple sentences are mixed with these problematic structures, warranting a Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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