Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

This diagram illustrates how ran-shadow desserts forms when the moist moving air coming from thousands of kilometers crosses the high mountains and reach there and is left with no moisture.

The story begins, when the the wind saturated with water vapours, starts its odyssey onward towards sky high mountains. As the wind moves upward, its temperature starts decreasing. The comparative cool air keeps rising and reaches windward side it converts nto the clouds. which can not resist the condensations and starts raining on the top of mountain. After loss of water the wind is left with no moisture and it starts declining the mountain.

The cmparative dry moving air reaches the leeward side of the mountain which starts increasing the temperature of the wind, owing to decreasing distance from the land. After completing that long journey, it reaches its final destination, which is the rain-shadow desert, situated on the far side of the sea accross the mountain. Due to its long journey and lost moisture the wind is left with no moisture and is not hotter so it becomes a reason of the dry and hot climate of the desert.

So, The wind is the reason of that peace of land to convert into desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You describe the main sequence from moist air approaching the mountains to rain on the windward side and dry air continuing inland, so the central process is recognisable. However, the overview is not clearly separated from the details, and some important information is inaccurate or unclear. The diagram shows winds approaching from the sea, rising and cooling, then producing clouds and rain; it does not say the air travels “thousands of kilometers” before crossing the mountains. The desert is inland beyond the leeward side, not “on the far side of the sea.” The final claim that the wind makes the land a desert is relevant but too general. Focus on the diagram’s stages and give a concise, accurate overview of how rainfall on one side leaves dry conditions inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable progression: an opening, a description of the rising air and rainfall, then the movement of dry air towards the desert. Paragraphing helps distinguish these stages, and phrases such as “After loss of water” signal sequence. However, some links are awkward or unclear, including “reaches windward side it converts nto the clouds,” and the final paragraph repeats the idea that the air has lost moisture. The opening sentence also combines several stages before the process has been explained. Use clearer stage-by-stage sequencing, such as “As a result,” and “On the leeward side,” while ensuring each reference has a clear subject. A brief overview followed by the stages in order would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a varied vocabulary, including “saturated,” “condensations,” “leeward,” and “moisture,” and some terms are relevant to the process. However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for a factual diagram description. “Odyssey,” “final destination,” and “story” are overly figurative, while “comparative cool air” and “decreasing distance from the land” do not express the process clearly. Spelling errors such as “ran-shadow,” “desserts,” “nto,” and “cmparative” also reduce precision. Prefer standard process language and accurate collocations, for example, “moist air rises,” “cools and condenses,” and “dry air descends.” This would retain your range while making the explanation more precise and appropriately formal.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “As the wind moves upward” and “After completing that long journey.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between stages difficult to understand. Examples include “when the the wind … starts,” “reaches windward side it converts,” and “the leeward side … which starts increasing the temperature,” where clause structure or the subject is unclear. There are also problems with agreement and verb forms, such as “deserts forms” and “the wind … reach.” Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly the comma after “begins” and the sentence fragment beginning “which can not resist.” Use shorter, controlled sentences first, checking articles, subject–verb agreement, and sentence boundaries before adding subordinate clauses.

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

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