Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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 diagram illustrayes the formation of rain-shadow deserts. The seven sequential steps are required to form a desert.

Overall, it was found that the formation of rain-shadow deserts began with the moist winds approached coastal area of sea and ended witj tje creation of inland when dry winds reached the inland areas.

In the intial stage of the process, the formation of rain-shadow deserts started when the wind approached the seaa coast. Then, wind pushed upwards from coastal area. In the windward side,moist air rose and cooled down, which led to the formation of clouds and results in heavy rainfall on the windward slopes of the mountains.

Once the moisture released, dry air continued over the mountains and started towards the leeward side of the mountains. Then, dry winds reached the inland areas, this is how the rain-shadow deserts are formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response is 142 words long, failing to meet the minimum requirement of 150 words. While the main features of the diagram are covered, the reporting is only partial and underdeveloped in places. The overview is somewhat inaccurate and simplistic, stating that the process ends with 'the creation of inland' rather than capturing the formation of the rain-shadow desert on the leeward side. Some stages, such as the rising and cooling of moist air, are described, but the overall progression lacks thoroughness and precision. To reach a higher band, the student must write at least 150 words, provide a clearer and more accurate overview, and fully develop all the key stages of the process shown in the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear attempt to structure the answer into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the stages. However, cohesion is sometimes faulty or mechanical, with awkward transitions such as 'Overall, it was found that' and repetitive use of connectors like 'Then'. Paragraphing is present, but referencing is not always clear, particularly in how the steps are linked together. To achieve a higher band, the student should employ a wider and more flexible range of cohesive devices, ensure smoother transitions between the sequential steps of the process, and avoid mechanical phrasing.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, providing basic terms related to the diagram such as 'moist air', 'clouds', and 'dry winds'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word choice errors that detract from the quality, including 'illustrayes' for illustrates, 'witj tje' for with the, and 'intial' for initial. Less common vocabulary is attempted with limited success. To improve lexical resource, the student needs to expand their range of vocabulary, use precise terms for geographical and meteorological processes, and eliminate spelling mistakes to ensure smoother communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer uses a limited range of sentence structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few attempts at complex forms which often contain errors. There are frequent mistakes in verb tenses, articles, and prepositions, such as 'moist winds approached coastal area of sea' lacking necessary articles, and awkward phrasing like 'wind pushed upwards' missing passive voice or reflexive structure. While these errors do not completely obscure the overall meaning, they cause difficulty for the reader. To progress, the student should incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures and improve accuracy with basic grammatical patterns and articles.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.