Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 following image illustrates how one type of desert such as a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, it is a seven steps process begain with winds approach coast from the sea and underwent various process then finally ends with dry winds reach in inland places. All the proccess is carried out on the behalf of the mountain which is highy expanded in it's base.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts begain with the wind blowing from the Sea or coastal region towards the mountains. Due the structure of the mountains the wind tends to move upwards as the wind hit to the sufarce of mountains. Similary, when the winds reach upto certain height then it will start to cools and transforms into the clouds. Furthermore, when the cloud reach at the top of the portion then it will tends to fall as a particle of water.

Then the air became dry and it's start to fall from the mountain. This dry air will reach to inland places and this way a rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as a sequence and include its main stages: winds arrive from the sea, rise over the mountains, cool, form clouds and produce rain, before dry air reaches inland areas. This gives the reader a generally accurate account of how the desert forms. However, some important details are unclear or incomplete. The overview says the process is carried out “on the behalf of the mountain,” which does not clearly explain the mountain’s role in creating a wet windward side and a dry leeward side. The final stage is also described as air falling “from the mountain,” rather than continuing over it and reaching inland as dry winds. Clarifying these relationships and distinguishing the two sides would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Furthermore,” and “Then” help signal progression, and the reader can follow the broad movement from the coast to inland areas. Cohesion is not always smooth, however. “Furthermore” does not clearly show the relationship between cooling, cloud formation and rainfall, while “Then” begins the final paragraph without specifying that the air has crossed the mountain. Some references, including “the top of the portion,” are difficult to interpret. Use more precise stage links and refer explicitly to the windward and leeward sides to strengthen progression and clarity.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “mountains,” “clouds,” “dry air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “transforms into the clouds.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice or spelling problems reduce precision: “on the behalf of” is not an appropriate expression here, “particle of water” is an awkward description of rain, and “highy expanded in it's base” does not clearly convey the mountain’s shape. Spelling errors such as “begain,” “proccess,” and “su farce” also stand out. Choose accurate process collocations and check spelling to make the description more natural and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including a sequence with “when” clauses, and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “a seven steps process begain” has incorrect number agreement and verb form; “it will start to cools” combines incompatible verb forms; and “the cloud reach … it will tends” has agreement and auxiliary errors. In “Due the structure,” the grammatical pattern requires a different construction, while “the wind hit to the sufarce” has an incorrect verb pattern. Aim for consistent present simple forms when describing a process, and check subject–verb agreement and articles. More accurate control of these patterns would make your complex sentences clearer.

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