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 illustration presented depicts the formation mechanism of a particular desert classification referred to as a rain-shadow 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 addresses the task partially, as it attempts to summarise the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, but falls short of the required 150-word minimum, containing only 143 words. While the overview touches upon the seven stages, the development is limited and under-developed. Important features from the diagram, such as the windward and leeward sides or the specific sequence of cooling and condensation, are described simplistically and lack clear comparison or extension. The position is sometimes unclear due to awkward phrasing and limited elaboration on key geographical details presented in the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation in the text, beginning with an introductory sentence and moving through the sequence of stages, but it lacks a clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are sometimes inaccurate or mechanical, as seen in transitions like 'Once it has been done' and 'Now dry winds finally reach inland areas those are started travel'. Paragraphing is attempted, but the grouping of ideas within the paragraphs feels disjointed, and referencing between sentences is not always clear, which disrupts the logical flow of the process explanation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The lexical range is limited but minimally adequate to describe the process diagram. There are noticeable vocabulary and word choice errors that cause some difficulty for the reader, such as 'assembly of clouds', 'sea cost', 'drops it's temperature', and 'rain fall occurred'. Spelling and word formation issues, such as 'continuous it's journey' instead of continuing its journey, show an attempt to use less common vocabulary with resulting inaccuracy. Precision is lacking throughout the descriptions of the meteorological and geographical features.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The text displays a limited range of sentence structures, and attempts at complex sentences are often faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that can cause difficulty for the reader, including missing articles ('to rain shadow desert'), incorrect verb forms and tenses ('winds go through, starting with assembly... and ends', 'cloud formation happened'), and relative pronoun errors ('inland areas those are started travel'). Punctuation is also sparse, leading to run-on thoughts and awkward clausal boundaries.

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.