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)

This diadram illustrate the rain-shadow deserts are formed and the moist air move from the dry winds inland.

Overall, the process consists o the seven stage, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with the formation of a dry desert in inland areas.

Initially, winds approach the coast from the sea and are pushed upwards as they reach the mountains. As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools and forms clouds. Subsequently, rain falls on this side of the mountain because the air continues over mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the process as a sequence and give a relevant overview, stating that it begins with winds approaching the coast and ends with a desert inland. You also accurately describe the windward-side stages: air rises, cools, clouds form and rain falls. However, the response is incomplete: it stops before explaining that dry air crosses the mountain, reaches the leeward side and continues inland to create the rain-shadow desert. The claim that rain falls “because the air continues over mountains” also confuses the sequence and cause. The response is substantially below the required 150 words, which limits how fully you can report the main features. Include all seven stages and explain the contrast between the wet windward side and dry inland area.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic, sensible structure: an introduction, an overview and a paragraph describing the early stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially” and “Subsequently” help show the order of events. However, the progression ends abruptly after rainfall, so the explanation does not reach the final stages or complete the process. The link in “because the air continues over mountains” is also unclear, since it does not explain how the air changes after rain. To improve, organise the description from the sea to the inland desert and use clear links for each transition, such as “After losing moisture” and “On the leeward side.” A complete sequence would make the overall progression more coherent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant terms for describing this diagram, including “windward side,” “moist air,” “coast,” “mountains” and “formation.” These show some awareness of the topic-specific vocabulary needed for a process description. However, the range is limited because the response covers only the first part of the process, and some wording is inaccurate or awkward: “the moist air move from the dry winds inland” does not clearly express the relationship between the air and the desert. There is also a spelling error in “diadram.” Use precise process vocabulary such as “leeward,” “precipitation,” “lose moisture” and “dry air” to describe the later stages, while checking spelling and choosing natural collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including the overview sentence and the clause beginning “As the moist air rises along the windward side.” Most of the sequence remains understandable, but errors occur in basic sentence construction. For example, “This diadram illustrate” lacks subject–verb agreement, while “the seven stage” needs a plural noun. The opening sentence also has an unclear structure, and “the process consists o” is incomplete or mistyped. In “rain falls … because the air continues over mountains,” the clause is grammatically formed but does not express the intended relationship clearly. Aim for accurate sentence patterns such as “The process consists of seven stages” and proofread agreement, articles and plurals.

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