Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28

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 below illustrates the information about the whole procedure of the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the commplete process, through which rain shadow formed, comprises of seven steps, starting from winds approach coast and finishing at formation of rain-shadow.

Initially, winds upside sea approach coast. This wind pushed upwards towards height of mountains. In next phase, on windward side of mountains, moist air rises and cools because of high altitude.

Furthermore, cloud form at the height of mountains because of high and cool air. In next stage, rain falls because of those clouds. Moreover, dry air from rain travel continues over mountains towards downside of mountains on the right leaward side. In final step, dry wind reach inland areas at the bottom of the mountains then the great rain shadow formed on desert. The difference in depth between sea and inland areas was thousands of kilometers which was very huge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student attempts to summarise the diagram illustrating the formation of rain-shadow deserts. An overview is provided, noting the seven steps involved in the process, which satisfies the basic requirement for a summary. However, several descriptions of the steps contain inaccuracies or awkward phrasing, such as 'winds upside sea approach coast' and 'dry wind reach inland areas at the bottom of the mountains then the great rain shadow formed on desert'. While the main features are touched upon sequentially, the lack of precision in reporting the data places this response firmly at Band 5.5, as the progression of ideas is occasionally obscured by unclear descriptions.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response exhibits some basic organisation through the use of sequencing markers such as 'Initially', 'In next phase', 'Furthermore', and 'In final step'. However, the overall cohesion is often mechanical and repetitive. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of sentences is rather disjointed, separating closely related meteorological events awkwardly. Referencing is also weak in places, such as 'because of those clouds' following a single cloud reference. Progression is somewhat impaired by these structural limitations, resulting in a Band 5.5 score for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, but it is heavily reliant on repetition and basic terms copied from the prompt, such as 'rain-shadow deserts', 'mountains', and 'windward side'. There are notable lexical errors and unnatural word choices, including 'winds upside sea', 'height of mountains', and 'leaward side'. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success and frequent inaccuracies. Spelling mistakes are also present (e.g., 'commplete', 'leaward'). This performance aligns with the Band 5 descriptor for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control over grammar is weak. There are frequent errors in article usage, prepositions, and verb forms, such as 'winds upside sea approach coast', 'this wind pushed upwards', and 'cloud form at the height'. Subject-verb agreement is frequently violated, and punctuation is inconsistent. These errors cause some difficulty for the reader and prevent the response from achieving a higher band, placing it at a Band 5.0.

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

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