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 diagram illustrates, how one type of desert, known as rain-shadow desert, is formed. Overall, rain-shadow deserts is formed by various process. The first process in winds approach coast that pushed air upwards to mountains. In the formation of rain-shadow deserts depends on vaious factors. There are total seven stages that help in the formation of rain shadow deserts.
The first step is winds appoach coast after that wind pushed upwards to mountains. At windward side the moist air rises and cools to maintain their temperature. Then in the next stage clouds are formed and after that in the fifth stage of formation rain fall starts at the top of mountain.
Moving forward to this dry air continues over mountain in the leeward side. In next stage when we go downwards to mountain dry winds reach inland areas and all this process help in the formation of rain-shadow deserts .
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You identify the diagram as a rain-shadow desert process and include the main sequence: coastal winds rise over the mountains, moisture produces clouds and rain on the windward side, and dry air continues inland on the leeward side. This gives the reader a relevant account of the stages. However, the overview is vague and repetitive: “formed by various process” does not clearly summarise the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. Some details are unclear or imprecise, such as saying the air rises “to maintain their temperature”; the diagram shows it rises and cools. Develop the causal links more accurately and make the overall pattern explicit.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response has a recognisable sequence, and paragraph breaks separate the introduction from the stage-by-stage description. Time markers such as “The first step,” “Then,” and “Moving forward” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the opening repeats that there are seven stages and that the desert is formed by various factors, before the stages are described again. Some links are awkward or unclear, particularly “The first process in winds approach coast that pushed air upwards.” Use a clearer overview followed by a chronological account, and connect each stage with precise references to the windward and leeward sides.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds,” and “inland areas,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, making parts of the explanation less precise. For example, “maintain their temperature” does not express the diagram’s cooling process, while “rain fall starts” is an awkward way to describe precipitation. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “vaious” and “appoach,” and inconsistent hyphenation of “rain-shadow.” Aim for accurate process vocabulary and check spelling and word forms carefully.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response attempts both simple and longer sentence forms, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, control is inconsistent, with frequent errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction. Examples include “rain-shadow deserts is formed,” “the first process in winds approach coast,” and “wind pushed upwards,” where the subject and verb forms do not fit together. The sentence “In the formation of rain-shadow deserts depends on vaious factors” is also structurally incomplete. Punctuation is sometimes awkward, as in the comma after “illustrates.” Build accurate simple sentences first, then combine stages using clauses such as “As the moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds.”
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