Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-21
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 provided flowchart demonstrates the multistage process of rain-shadow desert formation through damp and dry winds.
At a glance, the procedure consists of seven steps, starting from the winds at coast of the sea and ending with reaching of dry winds at inland areas. The air covers thousands of kilometers reaching to inland from the seashore.
The first phase occurs on the windward side in which moist air is formed by moving of winds in the upward direction followed by rising and cooling of humid air. After that, clouds are formed when air reaches at maximum height. Finally, it is started drizzling over mountains to remove water from the clouds.
In the final steps, when raining has stopped, the air becomes dry and starts to gather on mountains. Then the wind begins to move in the downward direction, subsequently it reaches to inland regions, and ultimately a rain-shadow desert formation is completed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The student successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process, covering all seven stages from the winds approaching the coast to the final rain-shadow desert. An overview is provided in the second sentence, noting the seven steps and the horizontal scale across thousands of kilometers. However, there are minor inaccuracies in reporting the visual details; for instance, stating that 'it is started drizzling over mountains' slightly mischaracterizes the precipitation stage, and the description of dry air gathering on mountains before descending is slightly imprecise compared to the source diagram. Nevertheless, all parts of the prompt are addressed adequately, fitting the criteria for a Band 6.0.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The response is organized into a logical overall structure, moving from an introduction to the sequence of steps, followed by the windward and leeward developments. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'At a glance', 'The first phase', 'After that', and 'In the final steps'. However, paragraphing is somewhat condensed, with the body of the process squeezed into only two paragraphs where clearer staging could be applied. Referencing and conjunctions are sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'with reaching of dry winds at inland areas', but the overall arrangement remains coherent and easy to follow, aligning well with Band 6.0 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'flowchart', 'multistage process', 'windward side', 'moist air', and 'rain-shadow desert'. There are, however, noticeable word choice and collocation errors throughout the text, such as 'winds at coast of the sea' (missing article), 'reaching of dry winds at inland areas', and 'it is started drizzling'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with some inaccuracy, placing this response firmly in the Band 6.0 category for lexical resource.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and participial phrases like 'starting from the winds at coast... and ending with...' and 'in which moist air is formed by moving of winds'. There are several grammatical errors and awkward preposition choices, such as 'clouds are formed when air reaches at maximum height' (unnecessary 'at') and 'when raining has stopped' (incorrect tense/voice). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors are present, they rarely impede overall communication, supporting a Band 6.0 score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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