Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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 given diagram illustrate how rain shadow is formed in desret.

overall, there are seven distinct steps are demonstrated, starting from winds approach coast follow by moist air rises and cools till rain falls . After rain falls, dry air continues over mountains and reach at inland areas moving above the high mountains.

In the first step, there are winds approaching the coast of sea ,from coast of sea winds push air drops and moisture in the air. These moist air cools the upper part of atmosphere and starts the process of cloud making. When fast tracking wind collide with moist air clouds are formed. After the formation of clouds rains falling starts shartly with in certain period of time.

After the rain falls dry air continues to move forwad above the mountains and then moves downwards towrads inland areas. when the dry winds covers thousands kilometer distance and reach in inlands areas then rain shadow are shown in land areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response attempts to cover all parts of the diagram, but it only partially addresses the task. While the seven steps of the rain-shadow desert formation are generally outlined, the ideas remain somewhat limited and under-developed. For instance, phrases like 'starting from winds approach coast follow by moist air rises and cools till rain falls' present basic summaries without expanding on the relationships between the geographical features, such as the windward and leeward sides of the mountains. The overview is also rudimentary, simply stating that seven steps are demonstrated. To move up, the writer needs to select the key stages more effectively and provide a clearer, more fully developed summary of the entire process without omitting crucial spatial relationships like the sea, mountains, and inland areas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some basic organisation in the response, using paragraphing to separate the introduction, overall summary, and body details, but there is a lack of clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are used mechanically or inaccurately, such as 'starting from winds approach coast follow by' and repetitive transitions like 'After rain falls' and 'After the rain falls'. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in 'when the dry winds covers thousands kilometer distance and reach in inlands areas then rain shadow are shown in land areas', which disrupts the logical flow of ideas. To achieve a higher band, the writer must ensure that sentences and paragraphs are linked more smoothly using a wider and more accurate variety of cohesive markers to guide the reader through the stages naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The lexical range used in this response is limited and minimally adequate for the task. There are noticeable vocabulary errors and awkward word choices that cause some difficulty for the reader, such as 'cloud making', 'rains falling starts shartly', and 'forwad'. Word forms and spellings also show recurring issues, including 'desret', 'shartly', 'towrads', and 'kilometer'. While the writer attempts to use topic-specific terms like 'moist air', 'mountains', and 'rain shadow', the frequent slips in spelling and collocation prevent the vocabulary from reaching a higher level. To improve, the student should focus on accurate spelling, correct word forms, and expanding their range of functional verbs and nouns related to physical processes and geography.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a very limited range of grammatical structures, relying heavily on basic sentences with frequent errors. Attempts at complex or multi-clause sentences are often faulty, leading to issues with subject-verb agreement and prepositional use, such as 'the given diagram illustrate', 'winds push air drops', and 'reach in inlands areas'. There are also frequent errors in tense usage and clause linkage, such as 'winds approach coast follow by moist air rises'. These numerous errors occur across simple and complex forms and can occasionally cause difficulty for the reader. To progress, the writer needs to increase grammatical accuracy, improve control over basic sentence patterns, and ensure proper verb inflection and article usage.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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