Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03
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 figure demonstarates in which way individual kind of dry land, known as rain-shadow desert, is produced.
Overall, establishment of rain-shadow dry land is held by several steps begining from winds approach coast to dry wind reach inland areas in rain shadow dry land.
The establishment involves numerous steps such as winds approach coast, winds pushed upwards, moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, dry air continues over mountain and dry winds reach inland areas finally.
Initially, wind from sea approaches coast and is pushed upwards by mountains of size of thousands of kilometers. Moist air rises and cools from windward side and clouds are formed. Rain from clouds falls on peak of mountains and dry air moves subsequently over mountain and moves from peak towards leeward side. After hot air falls touching leewards side, it moves dry wind and wind reaches inland areas and establishment of rain-shadow dry land in subsequently done.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages in the formation of a rain-shadow desert, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. However, some aspects of the process are under-developed or described with slight inaccuracies, such as stating that 'hot air falls touching leewards side' rather than focusing on the drying effect of descending air. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, outlining the overall sequence, which satisfies the requirements for this band level. To achieve a higher band, the description of the stages needs to be more precise and fully elaborated.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and a sequence of body paragraphs describing the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or repetitive, relying heavily on listing steps directly from the prompt ('winds approach coast, winds pushed upwards, moist air rises and cools'). Transitional phrases like 'Initially' and 'After' are used, but referencing between sentences is occasionally unclear, such as the awkward transition into the final sentence. Paragraphing is present but could be managed more effectively to group related steps of the natural phenomenon together.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, though it contains noticeable limitations and unnatural word choices, such as 'demonstarates' (spelling error) and 'individual kind of dry land' instead of 'type of desert'. The student attempts less common vocabulary like 'establishment', 'subsequently', and 'windward side', but some collocations and word forms are inaccurate, such as 'rain shadow dry land'. These errors do not impede communication, but they restrict the lexical score. Expanding the range of precise scientific or geographical terms with correct collocation would improve the lexical score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent errors in articles ('in which way individual kind', 'from windward side'), prepositions ('begining from winds approach coast'), and word forms/parts of speech ('dry wind reach inland areas'). While the meaning can still be understood, these errors are noticeable throughout the text. To reach a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate better control over complex sentence patterns and reduce basic errors in articles, plurals, and verb forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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