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 diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert, starting from sea to ending to inland.

Overall, this is a continuous process. the process formation takes thousands of kilometers. Starting with the coast level then move upward to the environment and then ending to inlnad.

Firstly, the winds approaches to the coast above sea level and then pused upwards to windward side to moist air rises and to cool down. Further this winds forms cloud containing water from moist. Later it helps to rain falls on to the mountains.

Furthermore, the dry air continues over mountain to leeward side which is the downside from the mountains. Dry winds later reach inland areas. and the cycle of the rain-shadow desert formation complete there.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and mention the mountain’s windward and leeward sides. However, the overview is unclear: “starting with the coast level then move upward” does not clearly summarise how moist air rises, loses rain, and leaves a dry area inland. Some details are inaccurate or imprecise, such as saying the winds approach “above sea level” and describing the leeward side as “the downside.” The response also does not meet the required minimum of 150 words, limiting the opportunity to report the stages fully. To strengthen the summary, explain the contrast between rainfall on the windward side and the dry conditions beyond the mountains, and describe each stage accurately without adding unsupported details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall sequence, with an opening, an overview, and paragraphs beginning “Firstly” and “Furthermore.” This helps the reader follow the process from the coast towards inland areas. However, progression is sometimes disrupted by unclear or incomplete links, particularly “Starting with the coast level then move upward” and the abrupt sentence “and the cycle … complete there.” Some connectors, including “Further” and “Later,” are used mechanically rather than showing precise relationships between stages. The overview also repeats the idea of movement without clearly stating the process’s main contrast. Use complete sentences and connect each stage explicitly—for example, explain that cooling leads to cloud formation and rainfall before the remaining dry air crosses the mountain.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally clear. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, which sometimes makes the description difficult to interpret. For example, “winds forms cloud containing water from moist” does not express cloud formation naturally, while “downside from the mountains” is not a precise geographical description. There are also spelling errors such as “inlnad” and “pused.” Aim for accurate process language and natural collocations, such as “moist air rises and cools,” “clouds form,” and “rain falls on the windward slope.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “and then” and a clause beginning “which is.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning unclear. Examples include “the winds approaches,” “moist air rises and to cool down,” and “the cycle … formation complete there.” The overview also begins a new sentence with lowercase “the,” and “and the cycle” is left as a fragment after a full stop. Practise building complete sentences with a clear subject and correctly formed verb, such as “The winds are forced upwards, causing the moist air to cool.” Check agreement and punctuation when editing.

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