Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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 illustrate how different type of dessert are known as a rain shadow dessert is produced

There are seven steps which are taken placed to form rain shadow desert. These all steps are used in sequence to be successful. The main feature is the wind from sea how it reach towards the mountains and rain is formed which lead the dry wind in inland areas.

Firstly, in sea the powerful winds are reached towards the mountains and the winds goes up to the top of the mountains. This all lead to moist air and cools which cause clouds on the mountains and rains falls on the peak of the mountains. This leads dry air over mountain. This all cause the dry winds to reach towards inland areas which cause rain shadow desert. However the overall process to form rain shadow dessert is time consuming and the overall distance from sea coast to rain shadow desert is thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence: winds move from the sea towards the mountains, rise and cool, clouds and rain form, and dry air continues inland. This gives the reader a basic account of how the desert develops. However, several stages are compressed or unclear: the diagram specifically shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, followed by rain on the windward side, then dry air crossing the mountain and reaching the leeward inland area. Your overview also calls the process “time consuming,” which is not shown; the thousands of kilometres label describes horizontal distance, not duration. To strengthen the response, report the windward/leeward contrast accurately and avoid adding unsupported information.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, moving from an introduction and overview into a description beginning with “Firstly.” The stages are mostly presented in the correct order, and phrases such as “This leads” help connect cause and effect. However, the progression is weakened by repeated, vague references such as “This all” and “This all cause,” which make it difficult to see exactly which stage causes the next. The final sentence introduces distance and duration together, disrupting the process description. Use clearer links between each stage and divide the explanation into purposeful paragraphs—for example, an overview followed by a step-by-step account—to make the sequence easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain,” “dry winds,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or repetitive. “Dessert” is repeatedly used instead of “desert,” while “powerful winds” and “successful” do not describe the process precisely. Phrases such as “winds are reached” and “rain shadow dessert is produced” are also unnatural. Aim for accurate terms from the diagram, such as “prevailing winds,” “windward slope,” “precipitation,” and “leeward side,” and use them consistently. This would make the description more precise and reduce the effort required to interpret it.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer cause-and-effect sentences, but control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make relationships unclear. For example, “This diagram illustrate” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “the winds goes up” also needs agreement. The opening sentence, “This diagram illustrate how different type of dessert are known as a rain shadow dessert is produced,” is difficult to parse because its clause structure is faulty. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent, as in “in sea” and “different type.” Try building the process description with clear, complete clauses: “As the moist air rises, it cools and clouds form.” Check agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries carefully, especially when joining several stages with “which” or “this.”

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