Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-26

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 illustrates the process of how one type of desert, the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the process consists of 7 main stages, beginning with Wind approach at coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. For the end resulting in a rain-shadow desert in land areas of desert.

Initially, wind approach the coasts of sea. Following this, winds are pushed in an upward direction. Once this has been completed, the moist air increases and cools the wind and tempurature. The resulting cloud formation occurs before the main rain falls.

In the next stage, rain falls at the top of the mountains. Subsequently, dry air continues over the mountains in leeward side. Finally, the dry winds reach inland areas resulting in a rain-shadow desert. During this whole process starting from coast to ending to the winds in inland areas totally covers thousands of kilometers for the formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response attempts to cover the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with inland dry conditions. An overview is provided, noting the 7 main stages and the geographical scale of thousands of kilometres. However, the first sentence is grammatically incomplete ('The diagram illustrates the process of how one type of desert, the formation of rain-shadow deserts.'), and some parts of the response are repetitive or slightly imprecise regarding the sequence. While the core information is present, the development of ideas lacks precision, placing this response at Band 5.5 for Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response is structured into short paragraphs, attempting to follow the sequential flow of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Following this', 'In the next stage', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the process. However, paragraphing is somewhat fragmented, and the overall progression feels slightly mechanical due to repetitive sentence structures. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as 'For the end resulting in a rain-shadow desert in land areas of desert.' These issues place the response firmly at a Band 5.5 for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, incorporating process-related terms like 'process', 'stages', 'moist air', 'cloud formation', and 'dry winds'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices, such as 'Wind approach at coast', 'increases and cools the wind and tempurature', and 'in land areas'. Spelling errors also occur, such as 'tempurature'. The range is limited but minimally adequate to convey the basic meaning, reflecting the criteria for Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as the incomplete opening sentence ('The diagram illustrates the process of how...'), 'wind approach the coasts', and 'During this whole process starting from coast to ending to the winds...'. Frequent errors in verb forms and prepositions cause occasional difficulty for the reader, though the general meaning remains understandable. This performance aligns with Band 5.0.

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