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 beside shows the natural process of how the formation of rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, all the process starts with sea and ends in inlnad areas, as the sea water evapurates, form clouds and after that, its rainnig and water back to surface and went inland and that made rain-shadow desert process.

There is natural cycle of 7 steps of how one type of desert, called rain-shadow desert is formed, the cycle begine with evaporation of water from sea, next, winds pushes upward because of mountains blocking the path. Furthermore, it continues and moist air rises and cools, and after that it shaped in to clouds, and when clouds clashes or collapse with mountains, it brust and startes rainning, and in second last step, the dry air continues over mountains and also the dry winds reached to inland areas and it went or absorb in to inland surface. That all cycle continues thousands of kilometers on land area. There is two upper layers of mountain on which this process is going, one is windward side and the other is leeward side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and include several central stages: winds approach from the sea, rise at the mountains, cool, form clouds, produce rain, and continue inland as dry winds. You also mention the windward and leeward sides and the desert’s inland location. However, the account only partially represents the process: evaporation is not shown, and the description that water returns to the surface or is absorbed inland is unsupported. The overview is also unclear because it describes a “cycle,” whereas the diagram presents a sequence from coastal winds to dry inland conditions. To strengthen the response, give a concise, accurate overview and explain how rainfall on the windward side leaves dry air to create the rain-shadow desert beyond the leeward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: an opening, an attempted overview, and a longer paragraph that follows the numbered stages. The sequence is generally recognisable, and connectors such as “next,” “Furthermore,” and “after that” help signal order. However, progression is weakened by repetition and unclear links. The overview repeats the idea of formation, while the final paragraph combines several stages in long, loosely connected sentences. Phrases such as “it went or absorb in to inland surface” make the relationship between dry winds and the desert difficult to follow. The description of a “cycle” also conflicts with the one-way sequence. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and stages, and connect each stage with precise references to what happens next.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “dry winds,” which helps identify key features. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or informal choices make the explanation harder to understand. For example, “clouds clashes or collapse with mountains” does not clearly describe precipitation, and “water back to surface” is imprecise. There are also noticeable spelling and word-form errors, including “evapurates,” “rainning,” and “begine.” Aim for accurate process terms and natural collocations, such as “precipitation falls on the windward slope” and “dry air descends on the leeward side.” Avoid repeating general words such as “process” and “after that.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, using clauses with “because,” “when,” and “after that.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors frequently affect clarity. Examples include “all the process starts,” “winds pushes upward,” and “the dry winds reached,” where agreement or tense does not fit the description. Articles and sentence construction are also problematic in phrases such as “There is natural cycle” and “in second last step.” Several sentences run together, particularly the final long account of cloud formation, rainfall, and inland movement, making the sequence difficult to parse. Practise writing shorter, complete sentences with consistent present simple tense for process descriptions, and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation.

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