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 diagram provides the formation of type of desert to rain-shadow desert in seven step.

Overall, the demonstration how wind from sea cause clouds formation and than the rain shadow desert. However it starts from wind approach coast and the of mountain causing rain and dry wind form the rain-shadow desert.

Firstly, from sea the wind approaches the sea coast ,and the end of coast the there is thousand of kilometres long and high mountain. when the winds from strikes mountain they moves upward. At we move higher the the temperature decrease the air become moist, which lead to cloud formation ,and become cause of rain.

Secondly,while some dry air moves from windward sides to leeward sides and continuous to blew to other side of mountain ,which is opposite to sea and coast. Finally the dry winds reaches the inland are, which lead to formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence from coastal winds to inland dry winds and the formation of the desert, and your overview recognises the contrast between rain-producing conditions and dry air beyond the mountains. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form and rain falls, whereas “the temperature decrease the air become moist” does not clearly explain this sequence. The mountain is not described as thousands of kilometres long; that label indicates the horizontal scale. The response is also two words below the required minimum. To develop the report further, describe the windward and leeward sides explicitly and explain that rain falls on the windward side, leaving dry air to cross the mountain.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by stages introduced with “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “Finally.” This helps the reader follow the broad process. However, progression is sometimes disrupted by unclear links and references, particularly in “and the end of coast the there is thousand of kilometres long and high mountain” and “while some dry air moves from windward sides to leeward sides.” The overview also repeats the process without clearly separating the main stages. Use one paragraph for the overview and organise the details in the diagram’s exact sequence, linking each cause to its result—for example, rising air cools, clouds form, and rain falls before the remaining dry air crosses the mountain.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “approaches,” “upward,” “cloud formation,” “windward,” “leeward,” and “inland,” so the topic is generally identifiable. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “the diagram provides the formation” is not a natural way to introduce a process, “the winds … strikes mountain” is awkward, and “continuous to blew” does not express the intended movement clearly. “Rain-shadow desert” is repeated often where “the desert” or “this area” could vary the wording. Aim for precise process collocations such as “is formed,” “is forced upwards,” “air cools,” and “dry air continues across the mountain.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “which lead to,” but control is limited and errors frequently affect clarity. Examples include “the demonstration how wind from sea cause,” “they moves upward,” and “the dry winds reaches,” where sentence structure or subject–verb agreement is faulty. The sentence beginning “At we move higher” is difficult to interpret, and “while some dry air moves … and continuous to blew” combines incompatible verb forms. Articles, plurals, and punctuation also need attention, as in “a type of desert,” “the mountain,” and the spaces around commas. Practise writing short, accurate process sentences first, then combine them with correctly formed clauses such as “As the air rises, it cools and forms clouds.”

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