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)

This diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, this process includes several steps starting from winds approaching coast, moving upwards clouds formed before raining on top of the moundations to the dry air formed and reaches in form of wind to inland area downwards.

Initally, the winds approached to the coast, followed by pushing the winds upward the mountains basically this is windward side of mountain. Thereafter, moist in air rises and cools further which forms a cloud before raining on top of the mountains.

Subsequently, this led to formation of dry air which continues to move downwards of other side of mountain which is known as leeward side and dry air continues to move downward reaches the inland areas to form a Rain-shadow desert.

this process takes place between sea coast and inland where it is seperated by the mountains for thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and cover its main sequence: coastal winds rise over the mountains, moisture cools and produces clouds and rain, and drier air reaches inland to create the desert. The overview also recognises the broad movement from coast to inland. However, some stages are compressed or unclear: the description does not clearly explain that the air loses moisture through rainfall before continuing over the leeward side. The final reference to “thousands of kilometres” is not clearly connected to the diagram’s horizontal scale. The response is also four words below the required minimum. Develop the overview and clarify the cause-and-effect links to report the process more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and two paragraphs describing the stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Thereafter” and “Subsequently” help the reader follow the process from the coast towards the inland desert. However, some links are mechanical or do not express the relationship precisely: “Subsequently, this led to formation of dry air” leaves the cause of the air becoming dry unclear. The overview is also a long, crowded sentence, making the sequence difficult to follow. Improve progression by giving each stage a clear connection to the next, and use paragraphing to separate the overall pattern from the detailed sequence without repeating information.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps convey the diagram’s subject. There is some variety in the verbs used to describe movement and change. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “raining on top of the moundations,” “moist in air,” and “reaches in form of wind.” Spelling errors, including “Initally” and “seperated,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural process language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe air as “rising,” “cooling,” and “losing moisture,” rather than relying on unclear phrases such as “dry air formed.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence of clauses linked with “followed by” and “which.” However, control is inconsistent, and some sentence structures make the process hard to interpret. For example, “Overall, this process includes several steps starting from winds approaching coast, moving upwards clouds formed” combines stages without a clear grammatical relationship. There are also errors with articles and prepositions, as in “approached to the coast” and “on top of the mountains,” and the final sentence begins with a lowercase letter after a full stop. Use complete, clearly structured sentences, check verb forms and article use, and punctuate each stage so that the sequence is easy to understand.

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