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 process diagram illustrates the creation of particular desert, named as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it consists of seven stages, but the main steps are as follows: initially start with the air which goes upward from the ocean, cloud forms, rain occurs, and dry air reaches in the desert.

The air above the sea when reaches the coastal area of the mountains, it strikes the mountain which pushes it upwards. After that, the wind in which moisture contains further goes upwards and becomes cools. Then the clouds are formed in which tiny frozen air droplets are present and further goes upwards at the top of the mountain.

The next stage is when the rain occurs on the peak of the mountain. Afterwards, the air becomes warmer and move downwards. Finally, the air reaches in the regions of the desert. The air travels thousands of kilometers distance to reaches in the desert from ocean.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The student successfully addresses the main features of the diagram illustrating the formation of a rain-shadow desert. The response covers the sequential stages from winds approaching the coast, being pushed upwards, cooling, forming clouds, producing precipitation, and finally descending as dry air into the inland desert. An overview is attempted in the second paragraph, outlining the seven stages and summarizing key steps. However, the description lacks quantitative or spatial depth in places, and some parts are slightly vague or generalized, such as stating 'the air becomes warmer and move downwards' rather than detailing the leeward descent. Nonetheless, all key physical steps are accounted for, meeting the requirements of a Band 6.0 performance under Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The text exhibits a coherent overall arrangement, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological flow of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'initially', 'After that', 'Then', 'The next stage', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, some cohesive links feel mechanical or awkward, such as 'The air above the sea when reaches the coastal area...', and referencing is occasionally unclear or repetitive. Paragraphing is present, though the body paragraphs could be better portioned to separate the windward and leeward sides more cleanly. These formatting and linking issues position the response firmly at a Band 6.0 for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying process-related concepts like 'moisture', 'coastal area', 'precipitation' (implied via rain), and 'droplets'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation inaccuracies throughout the text, such as 'creation of particular desert, named as' instead of 'formation of a specific desert known as', and 'becomes cools' instead of 'cools'. The student attempts some less common vocabulary like 'thousands of kilometers distance', but minor errors in preposition use and word forms persist. The lexical range is sufficient to communicate the main points but lacks precision, fitting the Band 5.5 to 6.0 descriptor range comfortably at a 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The process diagram illustrates the creation of particular desert, named as a rain-shadow desert' and 'The air above the sea when reaches the coastal area of the mountains, it strikes the mountain which pushes it upwards.' There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the wind in which moisture contains further goes upwards and becomes cools', 'move downwards' instead of 'moves') and awkward clause structures ('when reaches', 'to reaches'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.5 appropriate here.

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

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