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 diagram shows one type of desert and two type weather on left and right hand.

overall view of image clearly shows one connected with sea other is in inland rain shadow desert the difference between both windward side and leeward side distance of thousands of kilometres.

left side of desert connected with sea that creates chain and cause of rain. firstly wind approach coast deliver water to wind pushed upwards and secondly it deliver over the most air rises and cool end of desert it connects with clouds of rain this chain is called windward side.

other side of desert chain moves top to low dry air continous over the mountain after moves down towards leeward side it reaches dry winds inland area that called rain shadow desert the distance between the both sides of desert much more miles almost difference of many countries. the point where both sides connects very cold area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the task partially, attempting to outline the process of rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram. However, the explanation is incomplete and some key features are under-developed or inaccurately described. For instance, the student mentions that winds approach the coast and create a chain causing rain, but the description of the sequence is fragmented. Key stages from the diagram, such as moist air rising and cooling to form clouds and subsequent rainfall on the windward side, are only partially articulated. Similarly, the leeward side and the rain-shadow desert are mentioned, but the explanation lacks clarity regarding how dry air descends and creates arid inland areas. The overall summary is basic and struggles to fully synthesize the main features and comparisons of the process, leaving the reader without a complete picture of the mechanism presented in the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, dividing the description into a general overview and two main sections focusing on the windward and leeward sides. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the arrangement feels disjointed. Paragraphing is attempted, but the division of sentences does not follow a logical flow of ideas. Cohesive devices are either inadequate or inaccurate, with mechanical and repetitive transitions such as 'firstly', 'secondly', and 'other side of desert'. Pronoun referencing and substitution are weak, making it difficult to follow which part of the process is being referred to, such as in sentences like 'end of desert it connects with clouds of rain'. This lack of precise cohesive control means the text does not guide the reader smoothly through the stages of the diagram.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The student attempts to use some less common or subject-specific terms related to the process, such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'rain shadow desert', and 'inland areas', but these are interspersed with noticeable errors in word choice and phrasing, such as 'two type weather', 'deliver water to wind pushed upwards', and 'dry air continous over the mountain'. There are also frequent issues with word forms, collocations, and spelling (for instance, 'continous'). While the meaning can sometimes be discerned through context, these lexical inaccuracies cause difficulty and strain for the reader, preventing the response from achieving a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The grammatical range is very limited, relying heavily on simple sentence forms with frequent attempts at complex structures that are faulty. There are persistent errors in basic grammatical patterns, including missing articles ('shows one type of desert'), subject-verb agreement errors ('two type weather', 'wind approach'), incorrect prepositions ('distance between the both sides of desert much more miles'), and fragments lacking main verbs ('the point where both sides connects very cold area'). Punctuation is also problematic, with run-on sentences and a lack of proper sentence boundaries making the text difficult to parse. These frequent errors cause considerable difficulty for the reader throughout the response.

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.