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 diagram outlines the stages of rain-shadow desert formation.

Overall, this process consists of seven distinct steps beginning when the winds approaches to the coastal areas water vapors condenses, and falls as rain at top of the mountain. The dry winds are sloping down toward inland areas by passing over the mountain leads to the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Initially, the winds over the sea surface flows toward coast rose upward by driving force. Although rising air is moist, it expands and cools through evaporation process. Despite this, when the moisture condensed leads to the formation of clouds at at the windward side, and fell down as rain droplets at the peak of mountains. In contrast, after crossing the mountain, the air descends on the leeward side becomes warmer and drier. This air reaches to inland areas where it is accumulated in thousands of kilometers and formed the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the diagram, tracing the seven distinct steps of rain-shadow desert formation from the winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. An overview is provided in the opening sentence, outlining the main process. Key features, such as the moisture condensing on the windward side, rain falling at the peak, and the air warming and drying as it descends the leeward side, are accurately reported and contrasted. However, there are minor inaccuracies in phrasing, such as 'falls as rain at top of the mountain', but overall the selection and reporting of main features fulfill the requirements of Task 1 well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into a clear overall structure with an introduction/overview paragraph followed by a body paragraph detailing the process. Information and ideas progress logically through the chronological stages of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Although', 'Despite this', and 'In contrast' are used to connect ideas, though some referencing and transitions feel slightly mechanical or are grammatically flawed, such as 'by passing over the mountain leads to'. Paragraphing is handled adequately, though a clearer separation into three paragraphs (introduction, windward process, leeward process) would enhance readability and logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting process-specific terms such as 'water vapors', 'evaporation process', 'moisture condensed', and 'leeward side'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as 'winds approaches', 'sloping down', and 'is accumulated in thousands of kilometers' instead of 'spans thousands of kilometres'. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they reflect a Band 6 level where precise collocation and word formation are not yet fully mastered.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses using 'although', 'despite this', and 'after crossing'. However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('winds approaches', 'water vapors condenses'), dangling modifiers ('by passing over the mountain leads to'), and tense/participle errors ('when the moisture condensed leads to', 'clouds at at the windward side', 'fell down'). These frequent errors can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader, limiting the score to a Band 5.0.

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

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