Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-25

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 given process diagram illustrates the stages involved in the formation of a rain-shadow desert. The process begins with winds approaching the coast and end with the dry winds reaching inland areas.

Overall, the process follows a linear multistage sequence, beginning with winds approaching coast from the sea area to end with the dry winds reaching inland areas in the desert. During these stages rain-shadow desert is formed. These formation processes take place over a vast area.

In the initial stages, winds are forced toward an upward direction from the sea level to the mountain peak. After that, on high altitude cool moisturized air is produce which helps to form the clouds. In the remaining steps, cloud continued to follow upward direction, and rain falls occurred on mountains after which, dry air continued to flow down from the mountain to the leeward side and reaches on the inland areas. With this entire process rain-shadow desert formation is made on inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the visual data regarding the formation of a rain-shadow desert. The response outlines the main stages of the process, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. Key features such as the sea, the windward side, mountain peak, cloud formation, precipitation, and the leeward side are appropriately mentioned. An overview is included in the second paragraph, capturing the linear nature of the process and the vast scale involved. While some descriptions are slightly repetitive, the main features are accurately reported and compared against the spatial layout shown in the diagram, meeting the criteria for a solid performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is logically organised into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and a body paragraph detailing the steps of the process. Cohesive devices are used to signal the progression of the stages, such as "In the initial stages", "After that", and "In the remaining steps". However, referencing and transitions are at times mechanical or slightly awkward, such as "end with the dry winds reaching inland areas" and "With this entire process rain-shadow desert formation is made". Paragraphing is handled sufficiently, but overall cohesion lacks the flexibility and smoothness found in higher band scores.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a scientific process, including terms like "process diagram", "linear multistage sequence", "moisturized air", and "leeward side". However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as "the process begins with winds approaching the coast and end with...", "cool moisturized air is produce", and "rain falls occurred". Spelling and lexical control are generally sufficient for the message to be communicated clearly, but the presence of these errors restricts the score to a 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses and prepositional phrases (e.g., "During these stages rain-shadow desert is formed" and "After that, on high altitude cool moisturized air is produce which helps to form the clouds"). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly regarding verb forms and tense consistency, such as "end with" instead of "ends with", "is produce" instead of "is produced", and missing articles like "on high altitude" and "rain-shadow desert formation". These errors occasionally distract the reader, though they do not completely impede communication.

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

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