Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 given diagram illustrates the whole process of how rain-shadow desert is created which travels a long distance from sea to inland.

Overall, it is a seven step procedure which starts from winds approaching coastal area of sea and ending with the arrival of dry winds in inland area from leeward side of the mountain.

In the first step, winds approach the coastal area just above the sea-level and it moves above in the second step. Next stage involves the temperature of the air drops down as it rises above with windward side of the mountain and becomes moist. Afterwards, the clouds are formed in this stage which is at nearest distance from the peak.

Meanwhile, as the clods reaches the peak of mountain the rain drops fall as well as the dry air continues to move over the mountain. Finally, the dry winds arrives at inland area where the rain-shadow desert is developed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response successfully addresses the prompt by summarising the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation diagram. The writer provides an overview and breaks down the process into sequential steps. However, some aspects of the explanation are slightly imprecise or under-developed, such as the exact mechanism of precipitation and air descent. For example, stating that 'the clods reaches the peak of mountain' contains a typographical error ('clods' instead of 'clouds') and oversimplifies the meteorological processes depicted. Nonetheless, all key stages from the sea to the inland desert are covered, allowing the response to comfortably meet the requirements for a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, overview, and sequential steps. Cohesive devices are employed to guide the reader through the process, such as 'In the first step', 'Next stage', 'Afterwards', and 'Finally'. However, paragraphing is somewhat fragmented, with single-sentence paragraphs used in the body, which detracts from the logical flow. Additionally, referencing is occasionally vague, as seen in 'which travels a long distance' modifying 'desert' awkwardly in the introduction. Because the overall progression is clear despite the mechanical cohesion and choppy paragraphing, a Band 6.0 is awarded.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'coastal area', 'temperature', 'moist', 'clouds', and 'dry winds'. However, the range is limited, and there are noticeable word choice and spelling inaccuracies, such as 'clods' instead of 'clouds', and 'arrives' instead of 'arrive' in plural contexts ('the dry winds arrives'). The student attempts some less common vocabulary like 'leeward side' and 'rain-shadow desert', but overall control lacks flexibility and precision, placing the response firmly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over clause structures (e.g., 'as it rises above with windward side of the mountain and becomes moist'). However, grammatical errors are frequent throughout the text, particularly in subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'winds approach the coastal area... and it moves' (plural subject with singular pronoun), 'rises above with windward side' (inappropriate preposition), and 'the dry winds arrives' (subject-verb agreement). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent the score from reaching Band 6.5.

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

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