Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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 illustrates the process of formation of rain-shadow desert. From the surface of the inland areas after completing the journey of thousands of kilometers between the mountains.

overall, the process consists of seven main stages, beginning when the winds approach the coast and pushed upwards to make clouds, then rain starts and dry air goes over the mountains to reach the last step, ending up with the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Initially, the winds approaches the coast from the surface of sea and goes upward and make the air cooler to form clouds , after the formation of clouds then rain happens above the mountain surface.

After, the rain dry air continues over the mountain passing through the leeward side next, the dry wind goes down side and reach inland areas to form desert shadows thousands of kilometers far from the surface of the sea where it all started from.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overview: winds approach the coast, rise over the mountains, produce clouds and rain, and then continue inland as dry air. This addresses the process and identifies its outcome. However, some stages are compressed or unclear. For example, “goes upward and make the air cooler” does not clearly explain that moist air rises and cools, while the rain falling on the windward side and the dry air crossing the leeward side could be distinguished more precisely. The opening fragment about “the surface of the inland areas” is also difficult to interpret. To strengthen the report, describe each key stage accurately and make the contrast between the rainy windward side and arid inland leeward side explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by a description of the earlier and later stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially” and “After” help signal progression. However, the opening sentence is a fragment and does not connect clearly to the process, and the final paragraph begins “After, the rain,” which makes the transition confusing. Some links are repetitive or awkward, particularly “after the formation of clouds then rain happens.” Organise the stages in clearer paragraphs and use straightforward links such as “Next,” “As a result,” and “Finally.” Ensure each sentence has a clear relationship to the one before it, so the reader can follow the process without having to infer missing connections.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “mountains,” “leeward side,” “inland areas,” and “formation,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “winds,” “dry air,” and “dry wind.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “rain happens,” “desert shadows,” and “goes down side.” The repeated use of “surface” does not add useful detail, and “rain-shadow desert” is not consistently expressed naturally. Aim for accurate process collocations and avoid substituting vague phrases for the diagram’s labels. More precise wording would make the stages easier to understand while retaining the relevant geographical vocabulary you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence linked with “and” and a clause beginning “where it all started.” However, control is uneven, and some sentence structures are incomplete or difficult to follow. The opening, “From the surface of the inland areas after completing the journey…,” is a fragment. There are also agreement and verb-form errors in “the winds approaches” and “winds … pushed upwards,” and the long final sentence contains several clauses joined without clear punctuation. Use complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, check subject–verb agreement, and separate stages with full stops. A few well-controlled complex sentences would show range more effectively than several loosely connected clauses.

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

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