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 illustrates how a type of desert known as rain-shadow desert is formed. It consist of several stages such as winds approach coast, pushed upward, moist air, cloud formation, rainfall, dry air over the mountains and reached to inland areas.

Initially, the winds approaches from sea is climb up to the mountains and this moist air rises and becoming cools while travelling up to the mountains from windward side. The cloud is formed with help of this cold air and after reaching at peak of mountains the rainfall occur and water is converted into snow. In the next stage, it produced dry air which continued to flow downside from the mountains at leeward side and reaches to the inlandand formed rain-shadow desert.

There are several important stages which required to formed rain-shadow desert like moist air rises upward of th emountains and form clouds which helps to rainfalls and convert air into dry which made the desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process and describe its main sequence: moist air rises over the windward side, clouds form, rain falls, and drier air moves inland to create the desert. This gives the reader a relevant account of the diagram. However, the stages are not always reported accurately or clearly. The claim that water “is converted into snow” is not shown, and the final sentence repeats earlier information rather than adding a clear overview of the overall contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward inland area. Some details, such as winds approaching from the sea and the air continuing over the mountain, are present but underdeveloped. Select only features shown and summarise the whole process more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic sequence, signalled by “Initially” and “In the next stage,” and the paragraphs broadly move from an introduction to process details and a concluding comment. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the final paragraph restates that moist air rises, clouds form and rain falls without advancing the description. Some links are unclear, particularly “It produced dry air,” where the reference of “It” is uncertain, and the long second paragraph combines several stages in one sentence. Organise the stages in a clearer chronological sequence, use paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed account, and make references explicit—for example, state that the air becomes dry after losing moisture as rain.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “cloud formation,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps convey the topic. There is some range in describing movement and change, but several choices are inaccurate or awkward, such as “reached to inland areas,” “downside,” and “water is converted into snow.” The repeated use of “formed” and “air” also limits precision, while “inlandand” appears to be a typing or spacing error. Aim for natural collocations and precise process terms: for example, describe air as descending on the leeward side and continuing inland. These improvements would make the account easier to follow without requiring more elaborate vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence linked with “while” and “after,” but control is inconsistent. Errors occur in verb agreement and forms: “It consist,” “the winds approaches,” and “the rainfall occur.” There are also faulty constructions such as “winds approach from sea is climb up” and “moist air rises and becoming cools,” which make parts of the process difficult to interpret. Articles and sentence structure need attention as well, as in “the cloud is formed” and the final sentence beginning “There are several important stages which required.” Practise building clear subject–verb sentences first, then add subordinate clauses while keeping verb forms consistent.

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