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 diagram illustrates the formation of the rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the rain-shadow desert is formed after a series of natural processes such as, wind from the sea coast pushed upward on the mountain where it cools down and the moist air rises and form clouds. After which it turns into rain, while the dry air continuesouly blow over the opposite side of mountain untill it reaches the inland area thousand of kilometres far and for rain-shadow desert.

First of all, the moist air from the coastal area blows upward and cool down on the windward side of a mountain which then turns into clouds in result when the clouds become heavier and and the temprature decline the clouds turns into rain on the coastal side of the mountain leaving dry air on the leeward side of the mountains thousands of kilometres on the other side.

In result, the dry air constantly blows over the mountains untill it reaches the inland areas and transform into the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main process and its overall sequence: moist air comes from the coast, rises over the mountain, forms clouds and rain, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. This addresses the task and gives a relevant overview. However, some stages are not fully or clearly reported. For example, the diagram shows the winds being pushed upwards by the mountains, then the moist air rising and cooling; your account compresses these into “wind ... pushed upward” and “moist air ... blows upward.” The location of rainfall is also described as the “coastal side,” rather than clearly above the windward slope. Develop the stages in order and distinguish the windward and leeward sides more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a basic paragraph structure, with an overview followed by descriptions of the process, and the reader can generally follow the broad sequence. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the movement of dry air inland is stated in both the overview and the final paragraph, while the second body paragraph repeats much of the overview. Linking phrases such as “After which” and “In result” are awkward or inaccurate, and the long overview sentence joins several stages without clear boundaries. Organise the process into a more direct sequence, using one paragraph for the overview and another for the stages, with clear links such as “As a result” and “Once the air crosses the mountain.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the topic. There is also some variety in describing movement, such as “blows upward” and “continues ... over.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “turns into rain” is less suitable than saying rain falls, and “transform into the rain-shadow desert” incorrectly suggests that the air becomes the desert. Spelling errors such as “continously,” “untill,” and “temprature” also reduce control. Choose precise process verbs and check spelling, especially for repeated topic vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “a mountain which then turns into clouds” and a sequence linked with “while.” The main stages remain understandable, but some sentence structures are difficult to control. The overview is a run-on sentence, and the clause beginning “After which” is not grammatically complete. There are also errors in agreement and verb forms, for example “the moist air rises and form clouds” and “the clouds turns into rain.” Articles and plurals are inconsistent in phrases such as “opposite side of mountain.” Use shorter sentences to separate each stage, and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and the structure of clauses introduced by linking words.

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