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 process by which a rain shadow desert if formed near the mountain range

Overall the process consists of seven main stages, beginning with the winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas where rain shadow desert is developed

Initially the winds carrying from the sea is pushed upward where moist air rises and cools to form clouds start to rain on the windward side of the mountain.

After loosing somuch of its moisture , the dry air continues to go down of the leeward side ,at this stage the air becomes dry and move towards the inland areas

Finally,the dry wind travel futher inland, creating conditions that are unsuitable for rainfall. As a result rain shadow desert is formed on the leeward side

The distance from the coast to rain shadow desert is thousands of kilometres

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and include the key contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry leeward side. However, some stages are compressed or unclear: the account does not clearly explain that air is forced up over the mountains, cools, forms clouds and then produces rain. The final statement that the desert is on the leeward side is relevant, but the process and the diagram’s horizontal scale are only briefly described. The response is also six words below the required minimum. Add a little more precise explanation of the stages and their relationship to produce a fuller summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall order, supported by sequence markers such as “Initially” and “Finally,” and the separate paragraphs help distinguish the overview from the process details. The reader can follow the broad movement from the sea towards inland areas. However, progression is occasionally weakened by long, crowded sentences, particularly the sentence beginning “Initially the winds carrying from the sea…,” which combines several stages without clear boundaries. The final paragraph also repeats the idea that dry winds move inland and create the desert. Use clearer sentence breaks and connect each stage explicitly, while avoiding repetition, to make the progression smoother and the references easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the diagram’s main features. There is some useful variation in describing the outcome, such as “conditions that are unsuitable for rainfall.” However, several word choices and forms are inaccurate or awkward, including “winds carrying from the sea,” “go down of the leeward side,” and “the dry wind travel futher inland.” Spelling and spacing errors such as “loosing,” “somuch,” and “futher” also reduce precision. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent forms—for example, “winds blow from the sea” and “dry air descends on the leeward side”—and proofread carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex structures, including the overview sentence and the clause “After loosing somuch of its moisture…,” so the response is not limited to isolated short statements. However, errors are frequent and sometimes make relationships between stages difficult to interpret. For example, “the winds carrying from the sea is pushed upward” has problems with clause construction, agreement and passive form; “where moist air rises and cools to form clouds start to rain” joins clauses incorrectly. There are also errors in verb forms and agreement in “the dry wind travel” and “desert if formed.” Use a reliable pattern such as “As the moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds, which produce rain,” and check subject–verb agreement, articles and sentence boundaries.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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