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)

Introduction:

The figure illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert the one type of desert.

Overall, The figure is a natural process diagram which shows the formation of rain-shadow desert. It includes seven steps.Begin with winds approach coast and end on dry winds reach inland areas.

Paragraph:

The formation begin with the first step that is winds approach coast, subsequently winds pushed upwards. Following this the moist air rises and cools. Then the formation of the clouds take place.After that the rain begins to fall.The whole formation take place on mountains.It includes two sides: Windward side and Leeward side.

Paragraph: After Rain fall the dry air continues over the mountains.Finally the dry winds reach to inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the diagram as a process and report the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. You also mention the windward and leeward sides, which are relevant features. However, the account is underdeveloped: it does not explain the key cause-and-effect relationship that moist air rises, cools, forms clouds and produces rain on the windward side, leaving dry air to cross the mountain and create a desert inland. The overview mostly repeats that there are seven steps rather than summarising the process’s main pattern. The response is also 34 words below the required minimum, limiting the detail you can provide. Add a fuller overview and explain how the stages lead to the rain-shadow desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The stages are presented in a generally understandable order, and sequencing expressions such as “subsequently,” “Following this,” “Then,” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. The separate paragraphs also show an attempt to organise the description. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, with several short statements linked mainly by time markers, and the paragraphing does not clearly distinguish an overview from a complete account of the process. The transition from the rain falling to the dry air continuing over the mountain is understandable but could be connected more explicitly as cause and result. Use a clear overview paragraph, then group the stages into a logical sequence and vary the links between them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “formation,” “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain,” “dry air,” and the labels “Windward side” and “Leeward side.” These choices make the topic recognisable. However, the range is limited and several phrases are repetitive or awkward, such as “the formation begin with” and “the formation of the clouds take place.” Some labels are repeated without adding detail, and “rain-shadow desert” is not consistently expressed naturally. Aim for more precise process language and natural collocations, for example “the process begins,” “clouds develop,” and “precipitation falls.” This would make the description more fluent and informative without requiring unnecessarily advanced vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response communicates the basic sequence using mostly simple sentences and a few attempts to connect stages. However, grammatical errors occur frequently and sometimes make the sentences less smooth. For example, “The formation begin” needs subject–verb agreement, while “the formation of the clouds take place” also has an agreement error. Articles and sentence construction are problematic in “formation of rain-shadow desert the one type of desert,” and “It includes two sides” has an unclear reference. There are also punctuation issues, including missing spaces after full stops and inconsistent capitalisation after “Overall” and “After.” Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes, checking agreement, articles and sentence boundaries before adding more complex structures.

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