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 displays a formation of particular kind of desert, named as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall , the formation contains total of 7 stages with steeping pattern of moving up and turning back down , starting from winds at coast line which moved upward to cool and merged with rain , and end up by leeping down the mountains and spreading over the inland areas forming rain-shadow desert.

Initially, wind approaching the coast line turn moving in upward direction. The wind then tranformed into moist air while reaching windward side which cools down to form a clouds until rain falls over.

whereas , Then a downward turn taken over by the transformed dry air steeping down the mountains and continously leeping down from leeward side until reaches the inland area from where wind dispersed the sand in a way forming a kind of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a rain-shadow desert process and cover its broad sequence: coastal winds rise, moisture cools and produces rain, and drier air continues inland. This addresses the main stages, but some details are unclear or inaccurate. For example, the wind does not “turn into moist air” at the windward side; the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling there. The final claim that wind “dispersed the sand” is not shown, and the overview’s “turning back down” does not clearly explain that dry air crosses the mountain before reaching inland areas. The response is also five words below the required minimum. Add a clearer overview and describe the stages precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and a description of the process in sequence. Words such as “Initially” and “whereas” attempt to guide the reader through the stages. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty: “whereas, Then” combines connectors that do not fit together, and the final paragraph’s long chain of actions makes the sequence difficult to follow. The overview also repeats information from the body without clearly separating the main pattern from the details. Use one connector at a time and divide the process into shorter, logically linked sentences—for example, distinguish the windward stages from the movement of dry air over the leeward side.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “inland areas,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. There are also attempts at less common wording, such as “formation” and “dispersed,” but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “steeping pattern” appears to mean a sequence of rising and descending movement, while “merged with rain” does not describe cloud formation and precipitation. Spelling errors such as “tranformed” and “continously” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process collocations, such as “is forced upwards,” “cools and condenses,” and “continues inland,” rather than using unusual words whose meaning is uncertain.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, and the reader can generally follow the broad process. However, some grammatical errors affect clarity. The overview has an incomplete construction in “starting from winds at coast line which moved upward,” and the final paragraph contains a long, loosely connected sequence: “until reaches the inland area from where wind dispersed…” Articles and agreement also need attention, as in “form a clouds” and “wind … turn.” Use complete clauses with consistent present-tense verbs, which are appropriate for describing a diagram: “The winds approach the coast and are forced upwards.” Breaking longer sentences into shorter stages would also improve control of punctuation and sentence structure.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.