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 picture displays a layout of the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, a rain-shadow desert formation occurs through a natural process. Sea, rain and air plays a vital role in the formation of the desert. However, it forms thousand of kilometres away from the coast with a huge mountain in between.

The process starts with the winds approaching the sea coast, which travels up in the air and becomes moist and cool. Furthermore, it results in the formation of clouds and consequently rain pours. However, all of this process occurs on the windward side of the mountain.

On the other hand, dry air which continues from the windward side travels towards the leeward side of the mountain and reaches inland areas which results in the formation of rain-shadow desert. This whole procedure occurs in a thousand of kilometres. Most of the stages of a cycle occurs on the windward side, while only two steps were seen on the leeward side of the mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the diagram illustrating the formation of a rain-shadow desert, noting the progression from the sea to the windward side and finally to the leeward side. Key features such as moist winds, cloud formation, rain, and the resulting dry air are reported. However, some aspects are described rather vaguely, such as the mechanism of how the mountain blocks moisture, and there are slight inaccuracies in interpreting the process (e.g., stating that air travels up and becomes moist and cool, whereas moisture comes from evaporation over the sea before reaching the coast). Nevertheless, the overview is present and the main features are successfully identified. This aligns well with the requirements for a Band 6.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is arranged into a coherent overall structure with an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the windward and leeward sides. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'On the other hand' are employed to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the process. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'However' and 'this process'. Progression is generally clear, which warrants a Band 6.5 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with attempts at process-related terminology such as 'approach', 'moist', 'cool', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. However, there are notable lexical and collocation errors, such as 'air plays a vital role' instead of 'winds play', 'forms thousand of kilometres away' instead of 'thousands of kilometres', and 'this whole procedure occurs in a thousand of kilometres'. These inaccuracies, along with repetitive phrasing, place the lexical range firmly at Band 5.5, as the errors occasionally cause slight confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The process starts with the winds approaching the sea coast, which travels up in the air...' However, grammatical control is uneven. There are several subject-verb agreement errors (e.g., 'air plays', 'which travels', 'stages of a cycle occurs') and pluralisation mistakes (e.g., 'thousand of kilometres', 'two steps were seen'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but structural inaccuracies in complex sentences persist throughout the text, preventing the score from reaching a higher band. These errors rarely completely impede communication, supporting a Band 5.5.

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

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