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 diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert, a part of desert.

Overall, the process clearly shown that how a rain-shadow has been formed with the help of air, rain and mountains. In addition, the process required the thousands of kilometres of hills.

Firstly, the winds comes to the coastal regions by the upside of ocean. Naturally, the winds rise up and the moisture present in the atmosphere increases and cooled up. Opposite to windward side of hill the clouds formation is started. After that the weather becomes rainy and the rainfall began on the top of the mountains.

Further dry air is continue to suffer from a large distance then blowing by the leeward way of hill and comes down to inshore areas. After the dry wind comes on the inland place, the rain-shadow is finally formed. It formed at the inland areas and covered a wide area with it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses the main task by outlining the key stages in the formation of a rain-shadow desert, from winds approaching the coast to the creation of the desert inland. However, some aspects are unevenly developed or lack precision. For example, phrases like 'the process required the thousands of kilometres of hills' misinterpret the geographical scale shown in the diagram. While an overview is attempted, it contains awkward phrasing and minor inaccuracies. To reach a higher level, the response would need a more fully developed overview and precise reporting of the spatial relationships and stages without vague generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The writing demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a logical sequence following the numbered stages in the diagram, beginning with winds approaching the coast and concluding with the rain-shadow desert. Paragraphing is attempted, separating the introduction, overview, and body steps. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or awkward, as seen with transitions like 'Further dry air is continue' and 'After the dry wind comes on the inland place'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, which slightly disrupts the flow of ideas. More flexible and natural logical connectors would improve the overall progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating basic concepts related to weather and geography, such as 'coastal regions', 'moisture', and 'rainfall'. However, there are noticeable word-choice errors, unnatural collocations, and word-form slips, such as 'cooled up' instead of 'cooled', 'continue to suffer' instead of 'continue', and 'inshore areas' instead of inland. Less common lexical items are attempted but often lack precision. To improve, the writer needs to select more accurate meteorological terminology and pay closer attention to standard collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and sentence structure is inconsistent. There are several grammatical errors, including verb tense and form issues such as 'the process clearly shown', 'winds comes', 'the clouds formation is started', and 'rainfall began'. Articles and prepositions are also misused in places, such as 'to the coastal regions by the upside of ocean' and 'on the inland place'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to restrict the score at this level. Using more error-free complex structures consistently would elevate the grammatical score.

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