Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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)

This diagram illustrates that how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow, is formed.

0verall, the formation of rain-shadow deserts involves multiple stages, that covers thousands of kilometres distance.

Primarily, winds from sea levels approach coast which then pushed upward by creating pressures from lower levels to higher levels. Moving onward, moist air rises and cools that ultimately windward side of these winds. Resultantly, clouds form at the fourth stage of this process that leads to the falling of rain.

At sixth stage, dry air continues over mountain on leeward side which then reaches to the inland areas to form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process and include its main direction: moist air rises, clouds form, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air crosses the mountain towards inland areas. However, the account is incomplete and some stages are unclear: it does not clearly explain that the winds are forced upwards over the mountains, or describe the resulting rain-shadow desert in enough detail. The overview mentions the distance but does not summarise the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions on the leeward side. The response is also 94 words, below the required 150; the 10 words copied from the prompt are excluded. Develop each stage and add a clearer overview of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall sequence, moving from winds approaching the coast to rain and then dry air reaching inland. Paragraphing also separates the overview from the process description. Linking expressions such as “Primarily,” “Moving onward,” and “At sixth stage” help signal progression, but the connections are sometimes mechanical or unclear. For example, “Moving onward, moist air rises and cools that ultimately windward side of these winds” does not make the relationship between cooling and the windward side clear. The short final sentence also compresses several stages. Use clearer stage-by-stage sentences and refer consistently to the air, mountain sides, and desert so the progression is easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “clouds,” “rain,” and “leeward side,” which helps communicate the topic. There is also an attempt to use more formal wording, such as “Resultantly.” However, several choices or combinations are unnatural or imprecise: “winds from sea levels,” “creating pressures from lower levels to higher levels,” and “leads to the falling of rain.” The spelling “0verall” also uses a zero instead of the letter O. These choices make parts of the description difficult to interpret, despite the relevant technical terms. Prefer precise, natural collocations such as “winds from the sea,” “are forced upwards,” and “rain falls.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a relative clause in “which then reaches to the inland areas” and a sequence linked with “that leads to.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes obscure the process. In the opening, “illustrates that how” incorrectly combines two clause patterns; write “illustrates how.” In “winds … approach coast which then pushed upward,” the article is missing and the verb form is incomplete. “At sixth stage” also needs an article, while “that ultimately windward side” lacks a grammatical verb or clear clause structure. Build accuracy with complete subject–verb clauses, correct articles, and carefully controlled links between stages.

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

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