Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-18

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 demonstrates the stages of how a certain type of desert, known as rain-shadow, is formed.

Overall, the process involves multiple stages, To begin with the winds approching the coast, which results in the formation of clouds and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas.

To commence with, Winds approach the coast, driving their way upwards on the mountains from the windward side. Where the air containing moisture rises and cools down. Hence resulting in the formation of clouds and further causes rainfall; the next stage involves dry air making its way down the mountains from the leeward side.

In the next stage, dry winds finally reach the areas known as inland areas a

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a process and report several central stages: winds approach the coast, moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, and dry air moves inland. However, the response only partially covers the process: it ends before explaining that dry winds reach the inland rain-shadow desert, and the overview does not clearly summarise the full sequence or the contrast between the wet windward and dry leeward sides. The response also contains fewer than the required 150 words, so important stages and details are left undeveloped. To strengthen the report, complete the final stage and explain how rainfall on the windward side leaves dry air to continue over the mountains toward the desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to organise the report with an overview followed by stage descriptions, and phrases such as “To commence with” and “In the next stage” signal sequence. However, progression is not consistently clear: the overview sentence is grammatically incomplete, and the final paragraph stops abruptly at “inland areas a”. The sequence also becomes difficult to follow when “Where the air containing moisture rises and cools down” is separated from the preceding sentence. Use complete paragraphs and connect each stage in order, from coastal winds through rainfall to the inland desert. Avoid relying on formulaic transitions; clear chronological links will make the process easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” “formation of clouds,” and “rainfall.” These terms show awareness of the diagram’s subject and generally communicate the stages. Some choices are less precise or repetitive, however: “driving their way upwards” is awkward for air movement, and “areas known as inland areas” repeats the same idea without adding information. There is also a spelling error in “approching.” Aim for concise, accurate process language and use the diagram’s labels where appropriate, such as “dry air descends on the leeward side” and “the rain-shadow desert lies inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts both simple and more complex structures, including a relative clause in “a certain type of desert, known as rain-shadow,” and a participle construction in “driving their way upwards.” However, several sentence-boundary and clause-structure problems make the writing less controlled. The overview begins “Overall, the process involves multiple stages, To begin with…” and joins separate ideas incorrectly; “Where the air containing moisture rises and cools down” is a fragment, as is “Hence resulting in the formation of clouds.” Capitalisation after commas is also inconsistent, as in “To commence with, Winds.” Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and check punctuation when joining stages.

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