Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 illustration depicts the creation of a desert called rain-shadow desert.

The process begins by winds approaching towards the coast from the sea, it is then pushed upwards of the mountains to form clouds and rain on top of it. Then the dry air commences over the mountains towards the land, which forms a rain-shadow desert.

The first step starts by winds rushing to the coast from the sea which is then pushed upwards of the windward side of the mountains. This process cools the moist air to form clouds and they keep going up to the top of the mountains. Furthermore, when the clouds are the top of the mountain, it rains.

Afterwards, dry air carries on over the mountains by the leeward side. At the last stage , when the dry air reaches the inland zone, it creates the rain-shadow desert. The whole process of winds travelling by the mountains expands to thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence: moist winds arrive from the sea, rise over the mountains, produce clouds and rain, and continue inland as dry air, creating a rain-shadow desert. This is relevant and broadly matches the diagram. However, some stages are compressed or imprecisely described: the diagram specifically shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, and rain falling on the windward side; these details are not clearly distinguished in your overview. The final reference to the process extending “thousands of kilometers” is included, but its significance as the horizontal scale is not explained. To strengthen the response, report each key stage more precisely and make the contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, moving from an opening statement to a brief overview and then a more detailed account of the stages. Sequencing words such as “The first step,” “Furthermore,” and “Afterwards” help the reader follow the process. However, the first two paragraphs repeat much of the same information, and the progression is therefore not consistently efficient. Some references are also unclear, particularly “it” in “it is then pushed upwards” and “they” in “they keep going up,” where the reader must infer whether the reference is to winds, air, or clouds. Organise the stages once in a clear sequence, using paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed description and more precise references.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “inland zone,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is some variety in verbs such as “approaching,” “rushing,” and “carries on.” However, several choices are awkward or imprecise for a formal process description: “approaching towards” is redundant, “commences over the mountains” is not a natural way to describe air movement, and “expands to thousands of kilometers” does not clearly express the diagram’s scale. Repetition of “winds,” “mountains,” and “rain-shadow desert” also limits flexibility. Aim for accurate collocations such as “winds blow inland,” “air passes over the mountain range,” and “the process spans thousands of kilometres.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “a desert called rain-shadow desert” and a time clause beginning “when the dry air reaches the inland zone.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement occur often enough to affect clarity. For example, “winds approaching towards the coast from the sea, it is then pushed upwards” joins two clauses incorrectly and shifts from plural “winds” to singular “it.” “When the clouds are the top” is missing a preposition, while “when the dry air reaches” is followed by the unclear construction “it creates.” Use complete sentences with consistent subjects, and check articles and prepositions, for example, “when clouds form above the mountain” and “the dry air reaches inland areas.”

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