Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-19

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 naturally making process of the rain-shadow desert with the help of an ocean winds and from the moist air.

Overall, the process has 7 steps. It starts with the winds approached towards coast areas, and ends reaching to inland areas as a dry winds. Thus, it goes through different phrases of an air, Moistures, rain falls, mountain.

At the first, a winds from ocean needs to go closer at coastal area, and air pressure will push ( same as Windward side) it upwards to the mountain, Where a moist air and few rises both will be mixed. Therefore, it converts into form of a cloud. The same cloud will drop the water as a rain fall, and eventually, dry air continues their flow downwards from the mountain (also called as a Leeward side of the mountain).

At the end, all the particles will reach to inland areas as a dry winds. Thus, this is called a formation of rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and provide an overview: winds approach the coast, rise over the mountains, produce clouds and rain, then continue inland as dry winds. This is relevant and shows a sound understanding of the diagram. The ending also identifies the inland area as the location of the rain-shadow desert. However, some stages are not explained clearly or precisely. For example, “air pressure will push” the winds upwards is not stated in the diagram, and “a moist air and few rises both will be mixed” obscures the key point that moist air rises and cools. The overview mentions seven steps but does not clearly summarise the central contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side. Clarifying these features would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview, a description of the stages and a concluding sentence. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and transitions such as “Therefore” and “At the end” help signal progression. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear: “Thus, it goes through different phrases of an air, Moistures, rain falls, mountain” does not form a clear summary, while “At the first” and “At the end” are awkward markers. The paragraphing separates the overview from the process, but the final paragraph largely repeats the conclusion already given. Use clearer stage links such as “As a result” and “After crossing the mountain,” and organise the process in a single, continuous sequence with less repetition.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “coast,” “mountain,” “moist air,” “cloud,” “rain fall,” and “inland areas,” so the basic process can be understood. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are noticeably inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning difficult to follow. “Different phrases of an air” appears to mean stages or conditions of the air, while “all the particles” does not accurately describe the dry winds reaching inland. “Naturally making process” and “a dry winds” are also unnatural expressions. Aim for precise process vocabulary and standard collocations, such as “formation,” “air rises and cools,” “precipitation,” and “dry air moves inland.” Avoid adding terms that are not supported by the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “Therefore, it converts into form of a cloud.” The overall sequence remains partly understandable, but grammatical control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, articles, agreement and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning unclear. Examples include “the winds approached” for a process description, “a winds,” “a moist air,” and “dry air continues their flow.” The sentence beginning “Where a moist air…” is also not correctly connected to the preceding clause, and the capitalisation of “Where” and “Moistures” is inconsistent. Use the present simple consistently for process stages, check singular and plural agreement, and build each stage as a complete, clearly linked sentence.

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