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 process diagram illustrates the several stages of making the rain shadown deserts.

overall, the diagram consist a seven stages which is explain the process step by step.The rain shadow deserts are formed when winds approaching the coast and ending with the opposite side of moutains which is called leeward side and formation of a rain-shadow desert inland.

firstly, winds approch the coast from sea and then pushed upwards to the mountains. After that, moist air rises and cools.Furthermore, it resulting to making a clouds form on the windward side of the mountains. Subsequently, rains falls due to these clouds. Thereafter, the dry air continues over the mountains towards the leeward side. As it drops the opposite slope, it becomes more dry. Ultimately, dry winds reach inland areas where extremaly little rainfall occurs. consequently, rain shadow desert develop on the leeward side of the mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The student attempts to describe the seven-stage process of rain-shadow desert formation, identifying key locations such as the coast, mountains, windward and leeward sides, and inland areas. However, there are minor inaccuracies in naming, such as 'rain shadown deserts'. An overview is attempted in the second sentence ('overall, the diagram consist a seven stages...'), though it contains grammatical flaws. Crucially, the response falls short of the 150-word minimum requirement at 145 words, which must be penalised under the task achievement descriptor guidelines. The main features are reported, but development is somewhat limited by the restricted length and mechanical recounting of steps.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is organised into distinct paragraphs, including an introduction, an overview sentence, and a sequential body paragraph detailing the process. Cohesive devices are used to guide the reader through the stages, such as 'firstly', 'After that', 'Furthermore', 'Subsequently', and 'Ultimately'. However, referencing and transitions are sometimes repetitive or mechanically applied. Paragraphing is basic, with the overview awkwardly grouped with the opening and introduction. Progression is discernible as it follows the visual from sea to inland, but the overall mechanical feel keeps this criterion at a moderate level.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, attempting appropriate topic-specific terms such as 'process diagram', 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'rainfall'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-form errors, such as 'shadown', 'consist', 'approaching' (spelled 'approching'), and 'extremaly'. The range is somewhat limited, and these lexical errors occasionally cause minor distractions for the reader, fitting the Band 5 profile where vocabulary is minimally adequate with noticeable inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is weak. There are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('the diagram consist a seven stages which is explain'), incorrect verb forms ('winds approaching', 'rains falls'), and punctuation errors. For example, 'winds approaching the coast and ending with...' lacks a main finite verb. While communication is not severely impeded, the high frequency of basic grammatical errors prevents the score from reaching Band 6.

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