Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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 lays out the stages of how a rain-shadow desert is structurally formed.

Overall, the diagram illustrates how the process begins with approaching wind pushed upwards, causing cloudy atmosphere resulting in a rain. Consequently, this results in dry air passing through the mountains and gradually creating the rain shadow desert.

In the beginning stages of this process, it is shown that the wind approaches and is essentially plummeted upwards by colliding against the mountain. Continually, this air becomes moist and creates a cloudy atmosphere. Consequently, this cloudy climate results in a rain, due to which, the dry air after the rain flows throughout the mountain's outer surface. As it drags against it, the dry winds tend to reach into the inland regions that are successor of the mountains. This overall process is recognised as the rain-shadow desert as the dry air from the rain progressively perpetuates into certain areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all key stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process depicted in the diagram, from the initial winds approaching the coast and being forced upward over the mountains, to the cooling, condensation, precipitation on the windward side, and finally the dry air descending onto the leeward side to create the inland desert. An overview is successfully provided in the second paragraph, capturing the main trajectory of the process. The student properly identifies the main features without relying on irrelevant detail. However, the explanation is a bit repetitive in places (e.g., repeating references to 'dry air' and 'rain') and could have been more concise, yet it adequately satisfies the requirements of Task 1.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is logically organized with an introductory sentence, a clear overview paragraph, and a concluding body paragraph that elaborates on the sequential steps. Cohesive devices are used adequately to guide the reader through the process, such as 'In the beginning stages', 'Continually', and 'Consequently'. However, some cohesive links and transitional phrases are slightly awkward or misused, such as 'successor of the mountains' instead of 'leeward side' or 'downwind region'. Paragraphing is handled properly, separating the introduction, overview, and details, ensuring an overall coherent arrangement despite minor clunkiness in referencing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with appropriate topic-specific terms like 'moist air', 'cloudy atmosphere', 'windward side' (implied), and 'rain-shadow desert'. The student attempts less common lexical items, such as 'plummeted', 'perpetuates', and 'progressively', but some of these word choices are unnatural or inaccurate in this specific context (e.g., wind being 'plummeted upwards' or air 'perpetuating into certain areas'). Spelling is accurate, and while there are some lexical inaccuracies that slightly impede precision, the vocabulary remains sufficient to communicate the main processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases (e.g., 'resulting in a rain', 'as it drags against it'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text. For instance, 'resulting in a rain' contains an unnecessary article, 'continually' is used as a transition rather than an adverb of time, and 'are successor of the mountains' is grammatically incorrect. Punctuation is generally fine, and while errors occur, they do not severely impede overall communication.

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

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