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 process chart illustrates a desert named with rain shadow is type of desert.

Overall, there are seven stages by which winds go through, starting with assembly of clouds and ends in rain shadow desert. where cloud formation and rainfall consider as a important factor for rain shadow desert.

In the beginning winds approach sea cost and go upwards of the mountains where it drops it's temperature. Due to water vapor and dry air mixture cloud formation happened at upper side of mountain in cold climate.

After successful cloud formation rain fall occurred on the top of the mountains. Once it has been done dry air continuous it's journey leeward side on mountain. Now dry winds finally reach inland areas those are started travel from the sea who is thousand kilometers away from inland where rain shadow desert situated.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response partially addresses the task by outlining the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation, such as winds approaching the coast, cloud formation, and dry winds reaching inland areas. However, the response fails to meet the minimum length requirement of 150 words, standing at only 139 words. Additionally, some key features and spatial relationships shown in the diagram—such as the windward and leeward sides of the mountains—are only partially or awkwardly explained. The overview is somewhat simplistic and lacks a fully developed summary of the overall process, which limits the score for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, moving chronologically from the initial stages of the wind reaching the coast to the final formation of the desert inland. However, there is no clear overall progression or sophisticated paragraphing structure. Cohesive devices are minimal, repetitive, or awkward, as seen in phrases like 'Once it has been done' and 'Now dry winds finally reach inland areas those are started travel'. Reference words are occasionally unclear, making the flow somewhat mechanical and difficult to follow in places.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited and barely adequate for the task. The student attempts some less common vocabulary related to the process, such as 'water vapor', 'precipitation' (implied), and 'leeward side', but these are accompanied by noticeable word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'desert named with rain shadow is type of desert' and 'assembly of clouds'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but frequent awkward phrasings and unnatural lexical choices occasionally cause difficulty for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a limited range of grammatical structures, relying mostly on simple sentences alongside a few faulty attempts at complex clauses. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('sea cost', 'top of the mountains'), incorrect verb forms and tenses ('cloud formation happened', 'rain fall occurred', 'continuous it's journey'), and awkward relative clauses ('those are started travel from the sea who is thousand kilometers away'). These frequent errors can cause some difficulty and strain for the reader.

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

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