Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-15

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 process diagarm depicts how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the formation of rain shadow deserts consist seven crucial steps which starts with wind approach coast and end with dry winds reach in land areas.

The formation starts with with natural winds approch coast of sea and then winds moved in upwards direction of the mountain.The moist air raises and cools when it goes upward beacuse temprature on the high point is cooler when it cools down the moist air become clouds on the windward side of the mountain. At the peak of the mountain where ice is on the tip of mountain the clouds which where formed rains on tip of the mountain.

When going through thousand of kilometers of process when rain occurs on the tip of mountain the dry air continues to go down on the leeward side of the mountain and then dry winds reach inland areas on the bottom of mountains which form rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process and give a clear overall sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. You also include the key relationship between rising, cooling moist air, cloud formation and rainfall on the windward side, followed by dry air crossing the mountain. This covers the main stages, but some details are unclear or not supported by the diagram: it does not show ice at the mountain tip, and the rain is shown falling above the windward side rather than simply “on tip of the mountain.” The final stage could also explain more precisely that the dry winds reach inland beyond the leeward side, creating the rain-shadow desert. More accurate description of these features would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a description of the process in sequence. Words such as “Overall,” “then,” and “when” help signal progression, and the reader can follow the broad movement from coast to inland. However, the stages are compressed into two long body paragraphs, so several events run together. For example, the sentence beginning “The moist air raises and cools” moves through cooling, cloud formation and rainfall without clear sentence boundaries. Some linking is also repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “and then.” Separate the stages into clearer sentences and use a few precise transitions to make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the topic. There is also some attempt to describe movement with phrases such as “moved in upwards direction” and “continues to go down.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “wind approach coast,” “the moist air raises,” and “clouds … rains on tip.” Spelling errors such as “diagarm,” “approch,” and “temprature” are noticeable and reduce precision. Aim for accurate process verbs and natural collocations, for example, “winds are forced upwards,” “air rises,” and “rain falls.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “when” and a relative clause in “the clouds which where formed.” This shows some range, but control is uneven. There are errors in verb forms and agreement, such as “the formation … consist seven” and “the moist air raises,” as well as tense shifts between “starts,” “moved,” and “reach.” Sentence boundaries are also difficult to manage: the long sentence beginning “The moist air raises and cools” contains several stages joined together, and the final paragraph begins with an incomplete “When” clause. Use consistent present simple for a process diagram, check subject–verb agreement, and divide long sequences into complete sentences.

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