Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 given diagram depicts the process of desert become formation of rain shadow deserts.

It can be clearly seen from the given information,The one type of desert starts from the winds are reaches to the coast on the top of the sea. In the next step, winds pushes higher and becomes more cooler moisture air near the windward side after winds become too cold. It further transforms into clouds. Then it changes into rain falls.

Regarding the remaining information, the process of rain shadow desert starting from one type of desert to reaches thousands kilometeres. further dry air contiues over the mountains in leeward side. In the last step, dry winds reaches into inland areas. It is called rain shadow deserts.

overall, there are seven stages in the process one type of desert fromed into rain shadow desert, it starts from coast and reaches thousand kilometers with several steps to becomes rain shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence, including winds approaching the coast, rising on the windward side, cloud formation and rainfall, followed by dry air crossing the mountains and reaching inland. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, the overview is unclear and partly inaccurate: the desert does not “start” at the coast or travel thousands of kilometres; rather, dry winds reach inland areas and create a rain-shadow desert. Some stages are also compressed, especially the cooling of moist air before clouds form and rain falls. To strengthen the response, give a concise, accurate overview of the cause-and-effect pattern, then describe the stages in order without suggesting that the desert itself moves.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable sequence and uses basic signposts such as “In the next step,” “Then,” and “In the last step.” The division into paragraphs also helps separate the earlier and later stages. However, progression is not consistently clear: “Regarding the remaining information” is vague, and the final overview repeats the idea that the process reaches thousands of kilometres without clarifying what the distance refers to. Some links between stages are abrupt, while the repeated use of “It” makes the reference unclear. Organise the description into a clear overview followed by a chronological account, and use precise links such as “As the air rises” and “After crossing the mountain range” to show cause and sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant terms from the diagram, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture air,” “dry air,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally identifiable. However, vocabulary control is limited by inaccurate or awkward expressions such as “desert become formation,” “winds pushes higher,” and “thousands kilometeres.” Some word choices also confuse the process: “It is called rain shadow deserts” does not clearly identify what “it” refers to. Aim for accurate process vocabulary and natural collocations, for example, “moist air rises,” “cools and condenses,” and “a rain-shadow desert forms.” Check spelling and use singular or plural forms consistently.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and linked sentences, including “In the next step…” and “further dry air contiues over the mountains…” This shows an effort to describe a sequence rather than list labels alone. However, the range is limited, and errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some relationships difficult to follow. Examples include “winds pushes,” “winds are reaches,” and “the process … to becomes.” The opening sentence is also difficult to parse because its grammatical structure is incomplete. Practise accurate present-simple passive and active forms, such as “The winds are pushed upwards” and “The air continues over the mountains,” and use full stops and commas to separate complete ideas.

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