Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-19

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 process diagram illustrates, how the wind and rain result in the formation of the rain-shadows desert.

Overall, the water flows from the sea towards the mountains in the form of clouds, which then reaches the bottom which helps in the creation of the rain-shadow desert. Initially, wind flows from the sea level, as it reaches the mountain it is shifted upward, and moist air cools due to low temperature which results in formation of the clouds at the windward side of the mountain. After that the clouds would start to rain at the top of the mountain.

Furthermore, the rainwater moves downward which leads to dry air. The air then goes below the leeward section of the mountain. Finally, the dry air arrives at the inland areas. The dry air travels beneath the surface which causes the formation of the rain-shadow desert. This process takes time as the air and water droplets move thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student covers all key stages of the process diagram, from the initial winds approaching the coast to the creation of the rain-shadow desert on the leeward side. However, there are some inaccuracies in reporting the visual data. For example, the writer states that water flows from the sea in the form of clouds, and later mentions that dry air 'travels beneath the surface', which misinterprets the cross-sectional atmospheric process depicted in the diagram. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, but it contains minor inaccuracies regarding how the desert is formed. Despite these minor misreadings of the process, the response adequately addresses the main features of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response has a logical overall progression, moving sequentially through the seven numbered stages of the diagram. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After that', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' are employed to guide the reader through the steps of the process. However, some referencing is slightly unclear or awkward, such as 'which then reaches the bottom which helps in the creation', where the logical connection between clauses becomes slightly mechanical and strained.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms like 'process diagram', 'windward side', 'leeward section', and 'inland areas'. However, there are some inappropriate word choices and collocations, such as 'the water flows from the sea in the form of clouds' and 'travels beneath the surface', which indicate a limited precision in handling technical or scientific descriptions. Spelling is generally accurate, but the lexical control struggles slightly when describing precise geographical and meteorological phenomena.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, attempting relative clauses and introductory dependent clauses (e.g., 'As it reaches the mountain it is shifted upward'). However, there are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues, most notably an unnecessary comma in the opening sentence ('The process diagram illustrates, how the wind...'). Other sentences show awkward phrasing and minor structural slips that require the reader to re-read slightly, though they do not completely impede overall communication.

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