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 diagram describes the process used to form rain shadow desert on large scale basis.

Overall, there are seven main stages starting from the winds approach coast and ending in when dry wind reach inland areas.

Initially, winds from the sroundding reached towards the coast and pulled in upright position with the help of air , where wet air increased and it became cold .In the next step , the clouds are formed on above the mountains .

subsequently , the clouds leads towards the rain high above the mountains whereas ,the hot air moved over the mountains and finall dry wind reached the inland areas there, as a result rain shadow desert is formed that are thousands of kilometer away from the ocean .In the last stage rain shadow desert and cosat are on the same level but are far away from each other .In the fist stage till end the water is converted into dry land deset and there is a large mountain between the coast and desert .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as a sequence and give a broad overview: winds approach the coast, and dry winds eventually reach inland areas where the desert forms. You also mention the mountains and the rain-shadow desert’s distance from the ocean, which are relevant features. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately described. The diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, followed by cloud formation and rain on the windward side; your account says the air “increased” and became cold, then refers to “hot air” moving over the mountains. The role of the mountain in forcing the air upwards and the transition from moist to dry air need clearer explanation. The main features are covered, but some are less fully and precisely reported than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall sequence, supported by markers such as “Initially,” “In the next step,” and “subsequently,” and it begins with an overview. This gives the reader a basic sense of progression through the process. However, the organisation becomes difficult to follow in the long final paragraph, where rainfall, air movement, desert formation, distance, and the relative positions of the coast and desert are combined. Some links are also unclear, particularly “whereas” and “as a result,” which do not clearly show the relationships between the stages. Separate the description into clearer stages and use linking expressions to show cause and sequence accurately. This would make the progression more consistent and reduce the impression of ideas being added together.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some task-relevant vocabulary, including “coast,” “mountains,” “clouds,” “rain,” and “inland areas,” and you attempt more specific terms such as “rain shadow desert.” However, the range and control are limited, with noticeable spelling and word-choice problems: “sroundding,” “fist,” “cosat,” and “deset” make parts less clear. Several phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, including “pulled in upright position,” “rain high above the mountains,” and “the water is converted into dry land.” Use accurate process vocabulary such as “is forced upwards,” “precipitation falls,” and “moisture is lost.” Check spelling and choose collocations that describe air movement and rainfall precisely; this will make the account easier to understand.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, and the overall sequence can usually be understood. However, complex sentences are often not controlled successfully, as in “subsequently, the clouds leads towards the rain high above the mountains whereas, the hot air moved over the mountains.” There are errors in subject–verb agreement (“clouds leads”), tense consistency (“winds … reached” in a general process), articles and plurals (“rain shadow desert”), and sentence boundaries and punctuation. The final paragraph contains several ideas joined without clear grammatical structure. Aim to use the present simple consistently for a process, and build shorter, accurate sentences before combining stages with clauses such as “As the moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds.”

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