Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-30

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 how one type of desert , known as a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, it is clearly observed that the process involves several steps, the process beginning with the moist air approaching the coast and ending with the formation of a rain-shadow desert reach inland areas. The process takes place accross the hundred of kilometers.

Initially, winds approach the coast. Then, the moist air forced towards the mountains. As the moist air rises and it cools form a clouds on the windward side of the mountains. As a result, rain falls near the summit of the mountains. Following this, the dry air continues over the mountains in the leeward side. Conquently,when the air dry it decend to reach the inland areas. Finally, a rain-shadow desert is formed.

In conculsions, the overall process takes place accross the the thousnd of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student has successfully identified the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process, moving sequentially from moist air approaching the coast to the creation of the desert inland. Key geographic and climatic stages, such as the windward side, precipitation, and the leeward side, are correctly reported. However, there is a penalty for length, as the response contains only 144 words, falling slightly short of the 150-word minimum requirement. Despite this minor shortcoming in length, the information is accurately summarized, comparisons and spatial relationships are noted, and an appropriate overview is provided at both the beginning and the end of the text. Overall, the task is well-addressed given the constraints.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response is arranged logically and follows the chronological sequence of the diagram steps. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Then', 'Following this', and 'Finally' are used to guide the reader through the stages of the process. Paragraphing is utilized, though the text is relatively short, dividing the introduction, body description, and conclusion. Referencing is generally clear, for instance connecting 'moist air' to subsequent actions. However, some minor awkwardness in transitions and mechanical repetition of sentence starters prevent it from reaching a higher band. Overall, the organization is coherent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms from the diagram such as 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'rain-shadow desert'. There are some lexical and spelling errors, such as 'accross' instead of 'across', 'conquently' instead of 'consequently', 'decend' instead of 'descend', and 'thousnd' instead of 'thousand'. While these errors do not impede overall communication, they reflect a limited control over spelling and word forms. Attempts at less common vocabulary are present, but inaccuracies in word choice and spelling keep the lexical score at a solid mid-level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses like 'As the moist air rises and it cools form a clouds' and 'when the air dry it decend'. However, grammar and punctuation accuracy is somewhat weak, featuring noticeable errors such as missing verbs or incorrect verb forms ('cools form a clouds', 'air dry it decend'), punctuation omissions (space before commas), and incomplete sentence phrasing. Although these errors do not completely obscure the meaning of the process, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall grammatical control, placing the response firmly in the band 5.5 range.

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

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