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 process diagram demonstrates the stages involved in the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consist of 7 stages beginning with the wind flows toward coast and ending with the dry air reach into the open land area, however, coastal side name as windward side and main land called leeward side.

Firstly, air moves towards the coast area from the sea. Next, it hits the mountain, which pushed it upwards. Then, it increases the moist air rises and cools it, which results in cloud forming in fourth stage. After that, heavy rainfalls occurs on the top of mountains, whereas dry wind continously flow over the mountains on the other side in their sixth step.

At the end, dry winds reached into the inland areas, which we called rain-shadow area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and include its main stages, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. The overview also recognises the seven-stage structure. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: the windward and leeward sides are mountain slopes, not “coastal side” and “main land,” and the final area is specifically a rain-shadow desert rather than simply a “rain-shadow area.” The explanation of rising moist air and cooling is also difficult to follow, and the role of the mountains in forcing the air upwards could be stated more clearly. The response is below the required 150 words, so it has limited space to explain the process fully. Develop the causal links and describe the contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and a chronological account using “Firstly,” “Next,” “Then,” “After that,” and “At the end.” This makes the general sequence easy to follow. However, some links are mechanical, and the long sentence beginning “Then” combines several stages in a way that obscures their order. The overview’s contrast between the windward and leeward sides is also confusing, while “their sixth step” has an unclear reference. Use one clear sentence for each group of stages, and connect them with precise references such as “as the air rises” or “on the leeward side.” This would make the progression smoother and the relationships between stages clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “formation,” “moist air,” “cloud,” “rainfall,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific terms, such as “windward” and “leeward,” but these are applied inaccurately to the coastal and mainland areas rather than to the mountain slopes. Several word choices and collocations are awkward, including “open land area,” “rain-shadow area,” and “heavy rainfalls occurs.” Spelling errors such as “continously” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise geographical terms and natural process language: for example, “the windward slope,” “precipitation,” and “the rain-shadow desert.” A broader, more accurately controlled set of terms would make the description clearer and more exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a relative clause in “the mountain, which pushed it upwards” and a contrast clause with “whereas.” The sequence is mostly understandable, but some errors make relationships between actions unclear. For example, “the process consist” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the moist air rises and cools it” has an unclear pronoun and faulty clause structure. Tense and agreement are also inconsistent in “dry winds reached” and “rainfalls occurs.” The overview sentence is overloaded, with several ideas joined by “and” and “however,” making its grammar difficult to control. Use present simple consistently for a process, check singular and plural agreement, and divide complex descriptions into shorter, complete sentences.

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.