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 given diagram represents the way a kind of desert called rain-shadow desert is established.

Overall, the given step by step processing diagram has following 7 steps which is started from the winds which approach coast from the sea and after following steps it end on last stage of dry winds which reach to the inland areas.

In comman, the given process started from the winds that approach coast from sea and then the winds pushed in upwards dirrections, After this the moist air become rise and cool after which the clouds formed by it.

Additionally, the cloud which formed by cool air is converted to the rain falls and aftre rained the dry air continuesly leeward side over the mountain. by the process of the dry air is moved to down sides from mountain then finally it reached to the inland areas from which the rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and describe its main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, with rain-shadow desert formation as the outcome. You also include the key contrast between moist air and the dry air that continues beyond the mountain. However, the overview mostly repeats the sequence rather than clearly summarising the central mechanism: moist air rises on the windward side, cools and produces rain, leaving dry air to descend on the leeward side. Some stages are unclear or imprecise, particularly the explanation of how the desert forms. A more explicit overview and clearer reporting of the windward/leeward relationship would make the main features more fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, and phrases such as “Overall,” “After this,” and “Additionally” help signal progression. The reader can trace the movement from the coast, over the mountain, and towards inland areas. However, the paragraphing is limited, and several links are mechanical or unclear. For example, “In comman” introduces a repeated account of the opening stages, while “by the process of the dry air is moved” makes the final transition difficult to follow. References such as “it” and “which” do not always make clear whether they refer to the air, clouds, or rain. Grouping the stages into a concise overview and a clearly sequenced description would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain falls,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the topic remains understandable. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “rain-shadow desert” and “leeward side.” However, spelling errors (“dirrections,” “aftre,” “continuesly”) and inaccurate or unnatural combinations (“the cloud … is converted to the rain falls,” “dry air … leeward side”) reduce precision. Some wording is repetitive, especially “winds” and “which,” and “established” is not the most natural verb for describing how a desert forms. Aim for accurate process collocations such as “precipitation falls” and “air descends,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, using sequencing clauses such as “after which” and “then finally.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “the moist air become rise and cool” has incorrect verb forms, while “the clouds formed by it” does not clearly express the intended relationship. The final sentence, beginning “by the process of the dry air is moved,” is structurally faulty, and punctuation between clauses is inconsistent. Practise forming clear passive and active process sentences, for example, “The air is forced upwards, where it cools and forms clouds.” More accurate clause construction would make your sequence easier to understand.

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