Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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 shows the detail information about how a desert convert into rain-shadow desert.

Overall, there are seven steps required to the formation of rain-shadow deserts. These deserts consisted thousands of kilometres areas.

At the stage on sea, the sea received winds approach coast. This type of winds pushed upwards and become the moist air. The moist air rises and cool become the clouds form on the windward side. Clouds reached the top of the mountain and started rain. At the top of the mountain rain is falling. After the rain, dry air continues over the mountain on the leeward side. Dry air is falling on inland areas and show the rain-shodow desert. This area is called inland area. Total area from coast to rain-shadow desert covered thousands of kilometres.

In short, the formation of rain-shadow deserts required winds coast. It is necessary for rain on the top of the mountain. All this activities are happened on the mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response identifies the process as a sequence and includes several central stages: winds approach the coast, air rises, clouds form, rain falls on the mountain, and dry air continues inland. This gives the reader a broadly accurate account of how the desert develops. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the air is already moist as it rises and cools, rather than becoming moist after being pushed upwards, and the final winds are described as “falling” rather than reaching inland. The overview also misinterprets “thousands of kilometres” as the desert’s area; it indicates the horizontal distance shown. To strengthen the report, state the overall contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side, then describe each stage precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an opening overview, a sequence of process details, and a concluding summary. The stages are generally presented in the order shown, and phrases such as “After the rain” help signal progression. However, the final “In short” paragraph repeats earlier information rather than adding a clear synthesis, and some links between ideas are difficult to follow. For example, “This area is called inland area” does not clearly distinguish the inland region from the rain-shadow desert. The repeated references to the mountain and rain also make the progression feel somewhat mechanical. Group the stages into a clear beginning, middle, and end, and use precise references to windward, leeward, and inland locations.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The response uses relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “dry air,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. However, the range and control of vocabulary are limited, and several word choices or collocations make the description awkward or unclear. Examples include “the sea received winds,” “the clouds form,” and “show the rain-shodow desert.” The spelling error in “rain-shodow” also affects accuracy. “Detail information” and “all this activities” are not natural expressions in this context. Aim for precise process verbs and standard collocations, such as winds “blow in from the sea,” air “rises and cools,” and rain “falls on the windward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is usually understandable. However, grammatical control is inconsistent, particularly in verb forms, articles, and sentence construction. For instance, “how a desert convert” needs a passive form, while “the sea received winds approach coast” combines incompatible structures. In “The moist air rises and cool,” the verb form is incomplete, and “These deserts consisted thousands” lacks the appropriate grammatical pattern. The final sentence, “All this activities are happened,” also has errors in agreement and passive construction. Practise forming accurate process descriptions with present simple and passive structures, for example, “The air is pushed upwards” and “Rain falls on the windward side.”

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.