Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-13

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 given picture illustrares how to formed rain - shadow deserts. Interstingly, this process is not only simple but it also systematic.

It is manifest from the graph that winds approached to the cost and pushed upwards. in tne next stage, moist aie become rises and cools. subsequently, it become in cloud form and then rain fall is starts on windward side of the mountain.

Furthermore, dry air continuosly seems at leeward side of the mountain. iIn the last stage, dry winds are reach at inland areas, coast size is too large. it covers thousand of kiolmeters with the water. This rain-shadow desert is fond only in India rather than other nation of the world. and it is going on step by step.

Overall, the formation of rain-shadow desert is starts with winds approach towards to the coast and ends with dry winds reach at inland area of the mountain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main process and include several accurate stages: winds approach the coast, rise over the mountains, cool, form clouds, produce rain on the windward side, and continue as dry air inland. This gives the reader a basic account of how the desert forms. However, the description is only partly complete and includes unsupported claims. The statement that the desert is “found only in India” is not shown in the diagram, and “coast size is too large” and “with the water” do not accurately report its scale or features. The overview repeats the start and end rather than clearly summarising the key contrast: rain falls on the windward side, while dry air creates a desert inland on the leeward side. Include that contrast and remove invented details.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure, with an opening, a sequence of process details, and a concluding overview. Connectors such as “subsequently,” “Furthermore,” and “In the last stage” help signal progression, and the stages are mostly presented in the correct order. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear: “It is manifest from the graph” is followed by a confusing sequence, while “Furthermore” does not clearly mark a new stage. The final paragraph repeats earlier information rather than adding a concise synthesis. Some sentences also combine unrelated points, such as the dry winds reaching inland and the coast being large. Group the stages into clear paragraphs and use precise links to show cause and sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “dry winds,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow. For example, “become in cloud form” is not a natural way to describe cloud formation, and “coast size is too large” does not convey the diagram’s horizontal scale. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “illustrares,” “continuosly,” and “kiolmeters.” Aim for accurate process terms such as “condenses,” “precipitation,” and “inland,” and check spelling and word forms carefully. Avoid adding claims that the visual does not support.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, and the sequence can generally be followed despite grammatical problems. However, control of verb forms and sentence construction is weak in several places. Examples include “how to formed,” “moist air become rises and cools,” “rain fall is starts,” and “dry winds are reach”; these forms obscure otherwise relevant information. Articles and prepositions are also often inaccurate, as in “towards to the coast” and “at inland areas.” Capitalisation and punctuation are inconsistent, including lowercase sentence openings and the run-together “iIn.” Practise describing processes with a consistent present simple, for example, “Moist air rises, cools and forms clouds,” and check each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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