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)

The rendered process depict information about how single type of desert called rain shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process consists of seven steps. Process begins with winds approaching the coast from sea and ends with dry wind reach inland areas and rain shadow formed .

Intially, wind approachs the coast from sea, then winds pushed coast into mountains an upwardly . Moist air rises and start cooling in the third step. Thereafter, clouds are formed from windward side. Once formation of clouds has been completed rain water falling into mountains then from the top

of the mountain dry air continues over mountain into leeward side. At the end of the process, dry winds reach into inland areas. After that, the rain shadow desert are start formation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and give its overall direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. Most key stages are included, including rising and cooling air, cloud formation, rainfall, and the movement of dry air over the mountain. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: “winds pushed coast into mountains” does not clearly explain that the mountains force the winds upwards, and the final sentence suggests the desert begins forming after the sequence rather than identifying it as the result in the inland rain-shadow area. The response is also below the required 150 words, limiting the detail you can provide. Clarify the causal links and describe the windward and leeward sides more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall progression: an opening, a brief overview, and a chronological account of the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “then,” “Thereafter,” and “At the end” help the reader follow the process. However, the account is presented as one dense paragraph, and some links between stages are difficult to follow, particularly “Once formation of clouds has been completed rain water falling into mountains then from the top.” The final “After that” also makes the desert’s relationship to the preceding stages unclear. Use separate paragraphs for the overview and stage details, and connect each stage with clearer cause-and-effect language rather than relying mainly on time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is some repetition of “wind,” “mountain,” and “process,” and several word-choice or form errors make parts less natural, such as “rain water falling into mountains” and “rain shadow formed.” Spelling errors such as “Intially” and “approachs” are also noticeable. Aim for more precise collocations and consistent terminology: for example, describe air as being “forced upwards,” and say that “rain falls on the windward side.” Proofreading spelling and avoiding unnecessary repetition would make the description clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more connected sentences, including “Overall, the process consists of seven steps” and a sequence beginning “Once formation of clouds has been completed.” However, control of sentence structure and verb forms is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the process difficult to interpret. Examples include “winds pushed coast into mountains an upwardly,” “dry wind reach inland areas,” and “the rain shadow desert are start formation.” Articles and agreement also need attention, as in “single type of desert” and “the process consists” followed later by plural subjects with singular verbs. Practise accurate passive forms for processes, such as “the winds are forced upwards” and “rain falls,” and check subject–verb agreement and sentence boundaries.

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