Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-27
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 seven step procedure for rain-shadow deserts formation with the help of mountains.
Overall, the formation divided in liner seven sequence stages, that begin with wind approaching coast from sea level and end with drying moisture wind reaching near inland portion, with the completion of this process rain-shadow desert was formed.
Initially, the wind approaching coast move further, these wind forced towards mountain from sea level in upward direction after that, moisturized cool air rising on high altitude near windward side as result, cloud formation was occurred.
Subsequently, this cloud goes upward on a peak level and rainfalls initiation will happen. However, dry air constantly circulating above the mountain and went down towards leeward side. On other side, the dry air was reached at inland areas on the same level as sea. For creation of this desert thousands of kilometers area was covered.
As result, Rain-shadow desert was formed.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student successfully covers all key stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, from moist winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. The overview clearly outlines the seven-step linear sequence and the ultimate creation of the desert. The main features are appropriately reported and compared across the windward and leeward sides of the mountains, supported by the data showing scale and progression. However, some minor details are slightly awkwardly phrased, such as 'thousands of kilometers area was covered', but overall, the task is well addressed, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response is arranged coherently with a clear overall progression from the beginning to the end of the process. The student attempts to use cohesive devices and sequencing markers, such as 'Overall', 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'As result'. However, paragraphing is somewhat fragmented, with single-sentence paragraphs used at the end, which disrupts the flow. Additionally, some cohesive links feel mechanical or awkward, such as 'On other side', and referencing is occasionally unclear. Overall organisation is adequate, but more control over cohesive devices and paragraph structure is needed to reach a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a scientific process, using terms like 'process diagram', 'moisturized cool air', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'seven step procedure for rain-shadow deserts formation' instead of 'formation of rain-shadow deserts', 'liner seven sequence stages' instead of 'linear sequence', and 'cloud formation was occurred'. These inaccuracies prevent the score from being higher, though communication is generally maintained throughout the response.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating relative and participial clauses (e.g., 'wind approaching coast move further', 'dry air constantly circulating above the mountain'). However, grammatical accuracy is weak, with frequent errors in tense, voice, and subject-verb agreement. Examples include 'the formation divided in liner seven sequence stages' (missing auxiliary/passive voice), 'moistized cool air rising' (incorrect participle form), and 'this cloud goes upward on a peak level and rainfalls initiation will happen' (inappropriate future tense). Punctuation errors, such as missing commas after introductory adverbials, are also present.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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