Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 demostrates the process of the formation of rain-shadow desert.The process consists 7 stages starting from sea on the one side of mountain and ending at the inland on either side.

The whole formation starts when wind blew over the sea cost. When the wind approached the sea coast it is pushed upward towards the height of mountain. We know that the temperature falls as we go higher and higher from the earth's surface, due to this the moist air rises and it's temperature drops. This procedure is called condensation. As a result of condensation, clouds are formed. However the condensation procedure still goes on due to which the clouds became heavier and heavier.

When the clouds become filled with water, it starts to rain. Due to the rain the dry air continues over mountain and follow the mountain downwards, following that the dry wind reach the inland on the either side travelling a several thousand kilometers. This resulrts in formation of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the overall sequence from winds approaching the coast to the formation of a desert inland, and you include the key stages of uplift, cooling, cloud formation and rainfall. However, some details are unclear or not fully supported by the diagram. The opening says the process ends “at the inland on either side,” whereas the desert is shown inland beyond the leeward side. The claim that clouds become “heavier and heavier” is an added explanation rather than a labelled stage, and the description does not clearly contrast the wet windward side with the dry leeward side. To strengthen the summary, give a concise overview of this contrast and describe the final movement of dry air across the mountain to the inland desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, and the two paragraphs separate the initial stages from rainfall and the desert’s formation. Sequencing phrases such as “When the wind approached” and “As a result” help the reader follow the explanation. However, some links are repetitive or awkward: “due to this” and “due to which” occur close together, while “following that” makes the final sequence less smooth. The opening sentence also introduces an unclear endpoint, which weakens the overall progression. Use clearer stage-to-stage links and ensure each sentence advances one step—for example, explain rainfall, then state directly that the remaining dry air crosses the leeward side and reaches inland areas.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “condensation,” “clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There is also some variation in how you describe movement, such as “approached” and “pushed upward.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or imprecise: “sea cost” appears where “coast” is intended, “wind blew over the sea” does not clearly express the diagram’s movement towards land, and “follow the mountain downwards” is not a natural description of air crossing the mountain. Spelling slips such as “demostrates” and “resulrts” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process language, such as “winds move inland,” “air descends on the leeward side,” and “the desert forms.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “As a result of condensation, clouds are formed” and a relative clause beginning “due to which.” The sequence remains understandable overall, but errors in sentence structure, tense, agreement and articles recur. For example, “The process consists 7 stages” needs “consists of seven stages,” and “When the clouds become filled with water, it starts to rain” has a mismatch between plural “clouds” and singular “it.” The past-tense “wind blew” is also inconsistent with the present-tense process description. Review articles and prepositions, and keep the present simple consistent when describing a general process. Breaking the longer final sentence into two would also improve control.

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