Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-04

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 process by which rain-shadow desert is formed

The process consists of seven main stages, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with the dry winds reaching inland areas, with undergoing several stages involving environmental elements take place to produce a rain-shadow desert.

Initially, the winds approach the coast. Following this, the winds are pushed upwards along the coast before the moist air on the windward side rises and cools. Once the air has cooled, clouds form

At the drying stage, the dry air continues over the mountain before the dry winds reach the inland areas, where a rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

The response only partially addresses the task requirements. First, it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, coming in at just 106 words. Second, while it attempts to outline the stages of rain-shadow desert formation, the description is quite minimal and misses several details presented in the diagram, such as the specific role of the leeward side, the sea, and the scale of thousands of kilometres. The overview is also very brief. To move up to a higher band, the writer must ensure the response meets the length requirement and provides a fully developed, extended description of all key stages and features shown in the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The text shows some organization with basic paragraphing and sequence markers such as 'Initially' and 'Following this'. However, there is no clear overall progression due to the brevity of the response and abrupt transitions between paragraphs. Cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or awkwardly used, as seen in the phrase 'with undergoing several stages involving environmental elements take place'. Pronoun referencing and logical flow between ideas need greater control. To achieve a higher band, the writer should structure the response with a clearer overview and use a wider range of cohesive devices smoothly and naturally to connect the stages of the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is minimally adequate for the task, with simple terms like 'winds', 'coast', 'clouds', and 'mountain'. There are noticeable lexical errors and awkward phrasing, such as 'rain-shadow desert' missing an article ('a rain-shadow desert') in the opening sentence, and the convoluted phrase 'involving environmental elements take place'. Spelling is generally acceptable, but the limited range and lack of precision in word choice restrict the score at this level. To improve, the writer should incorporate less common vocabulary related to geographical processes and ensure precise word choice and collocations without awkward redundancies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, such as 'The process consists of seven main stages, beginning with...' and 'Once the air has cooled, clouds form'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward structural formations, particularly 'with undergoing several stages involving environmental elements take place', which disrupts sentence integrity. Articles and verb forms also show occasional inaccuracies. To reach a higher band, the writer needs to produce a wider variety of complex structures with greater accuracy, ensuring that subordinate clauses and participial phrases are grammatically complete and error-free.

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.