Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-17

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)

A diagram shown a majastic mountains consists on thousands of kilometres. One side of the mountains is connected with deep sea and costal area but the other side sitituated in desert. Their are seven steps in the formation of rain-shadow deserts process illustrates, in which the first step was winds approch coast continuesly traveling on the surface of ocean. After that air feel pressure from the costal line and than pushed upwards. In another part of this cycle, moist breez rises and lower down the temprature. The next phase was very significant, in this clouds formed with cool breez contained water. Right after that, rains falls at the top of the mountain. In the second last process only dry air left and continues towards next stop. The last step in this formation, is the air comes at the bottom of sandy area from to top. This dry air than reached to inland areas.

Overall, in this cycle all steps including outcomes depends on the nature. The big ranges of mountains mostly follow the same pattern whole year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main subject and report most of the seven stages, including upward movement, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air travelling inland. This gives the reader a broadly relevant account of the process. However, some key details are unclear or inaccurate: the diagram shows winds approaching from the sea, air rising on the windward side, and a rain-shadow desert beyond the leeward side, whereas “the air comes at the bottom of sandy area from to top” does not clearly describe the final stage or locate the desert. The overview is also weak: “all steps…depends on the nature” and the claim that mountains follow the pattern “whole year” are not supported by the diagram. A clearer summary of the sea-to-inland sequence and its outcome would strengthen coverage.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence and uses time markers such as “After that,” “The next phase,” “Right after that,” and “The last step,” which help the reader follow the stages. The paragraph break also separates the process description from a concluding comment. However, progression is sometimes mechanical, and references are not always clear: “In another part of this cycle” and “the second last process” make the sequence less direct, while “the air comes at the bottom of sandy area from to top” is difficult to connect to the preceding stage. The final paragraph introduces general claims rather than drawing together the process. Use a concise overview and connect each stage with clear cause-and-effect links to make the organisation more effective.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist,” “pressure,” “clouds,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally identifiable. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or unnatural choices make meaning less precise. “Majastic mountains” appears to mean “majestic mountains,” but that description is unnecessary; “deep sea” and “costal area” are not the diagram’s labels, and “cool breez contained water” is an awkward way to describe moisture and cloud formation. Spelling errors such as “approch,” “temprature,” and “sitituated” are noticeable. Prefer precise process terms such as “moist air,” “windward slope,” and “leeward side,” and check spelling and collocations carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, and the sequence is often expressed in complete clauses. However, control is inconsistent, particularly in complex constructions, which sometimes makes relationships between stages difficult to understand. For example, “A diagram shown a majastic mountains consists on thousands of kilometres” has problems with tense, articles, and sentence structure; “Their are seven steps…process illustrates” also has faulty agreement and clause construction. Other examples include “rains falls” and “the air comes…from to top,” where verb agreement and prepositions are not controlled. Use a reliable pattern such as “First, winds approach the coast. They are forced upwards by the mountains.” Then check subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries before adding longer clauses.

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

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