Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 provided process diagram illustrates how rain-shadow desert is formed from various steps.

Overall, the diagram consists of total seven stages and process begins with approaching coasts followed by pushing winds, rises, cools, forming clouds and eventually causes rain to fall.

The rain-shadow desert process starts from when the warm and moist wind from the sea cost reached at mountain range from where it is forced to rises surrounds the mountain and as it rises it cools down. Afterwards, on windward side wind form clouds due to which rain drops on land. Next, after loosing much of its moisture dry air crosses the mountain and descends on leeward side.As the air moves downwards it dries and warm up and preventing to form clouds.

Eventually, the dry air reached in areas of inland from there it is transformed to form rain-shadow desert. In general, winds travels overs thousands of kilometres to produce it.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as having seven stages and describe its main progression from sea winds to rain on the windward side, then dry air crossing the mountains and reaching inland. This covers the central features of the diagram. However, the overview is not fully accurate: it lists several stages but does not clearly summarise the key contrast between moisture being released on the windward side and dry air creating a desert beyond the leeward side. Some details are also unclear or unsupported, such as calling the wind “warm” and saying it “surrounds” the mountain. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the cause-and-effect pattern, then describe the stages and locations precisely, including the rain-shadow desert inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the process in sequence. Connectors such as “Overall,” “Afterwards,” “Next,” and “Eventually” help the reader follow the stages. However, some linking is mechanical, and the overview repeats the sequence rather than highlighting the main pattern. A few references and transitions are unclear, particularly “from where it is forced to rises surrounds the mountain,” while the sentence beginning “Next” runs into the following sentence without a space after the full stop. Organise the description into clearer cause-and-effect steps and use linking phrases to show how moisture loss leads to dry air and then desert formation.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” “descends,” and “inland,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. There is also some variety in how the stages are described. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “rain drops on land,” “loosing much of its moisture,” and “transformed to form rain-shadow desert.” Spelling and word-form slips, including “cost” for “coast” and “loosing” for “losing,” also reduce precision. Aim for standard process collocations such as “rain falls,” “loses moisture,” and “a desert forms,” and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary would make the explanation clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “as,” “from where,” and “after.” This gives the description some structural variety, and the overall meaning can generally be followed. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are evident: “is forced to rises,” “wind form clouds,” “the dry air reached,” and “winds travels” are examples. The clause “As the air moves downwards it dries and warm up and preventing to form clouds” is also not grammatically complete in its final part. Work on keeping tense consistent in a process description, matching subjects and verbs, and using infinitives and participles correctly. Breaking the longest sentences into clearer units will also improve accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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