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 illustrates the stages involved in how one type of desert, known as rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the process begins with the winds approaching coast and ends with the drying winds reach inland areas. It involves moisting, forming and drying.

Initially, winds from the sea approach coast, then they are getting pushed upwards-which is one fourth of the whole process. It is sorted by moist air rising and cooling on the way of Windward side- mountain range cools and condenses, leading to heavy precipitation before crossing the peak, from there, clouds form, which turn into a rain falls- here the amount of kilometre spent is aproxemetely thousand and a half

Finally, dry air continues over mountain on it's way to Leeward side- Approximately 2 thousand and 100 kilometres. From there, dry winds reach inland areas upon the way of Rain shadow desert. This process takes thousands of kilometres

Finally

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and give its broad direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. You also mention the key stages of rising, cooling, cloud formation and rainfall, so the response is relevant. However, the account is only partly clear and includes unsupported details: the diagram does not show “heavy” precipitation or distances of “a thousand and a half” and “2 thousand and 100 kilometres.” The overview, “It involves moisting, forming and drying,” is too vague to summarise the main cause-and-effect pattern. Explain that moist sea air rises over the windward side, loses moisture as rain, and then descends or continues dry towards the inland leeward side, where the rain-shadow desert forms.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an opening, an overview and stage descriptions, and words such as “Initially” and “Finally” show an attempt to guide the reader through the process. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and repetition. The sentence beginning “It is sorted by moist air…” is difficult to follow, and “from there” does not clearly identify whether it refers to the mountain peak, clouds or rainfall. “Finally” is used twice, with the last occurrence left as a separate fragment. Organise the stages in a clear sequence, using one paragraph for the overview and another for the main stages. Use precise references such as “after rainfall” and avoid repeating transition words without adding a new stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “condenses,” “precipitation,” “windward side” and “leeward side.” These terms show an attempt to describe the diagram specifically. However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward and make the explanation harder to understand: “moisting” is not a suitable noun here, “It is sorted by” does not express the process, and “a rain falls” is unnatural. There are also spelling errors in “aproxemetely,” and “rain shadow desert” is not consistently presented as the diagram’s term. Choose standard process language and check spelling; for example, describe air as “rising,” “cooling” and “losing moisture,” and refer to “rainfall” rather than “a rain.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “then” and a clause beginning “which turn into…”. However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make relationships between stages unclear. For example, “the process begins with the winds approaching coast and ends with the drying winds reach inland areas” mixes verb patterns; use “winds approaching the coast” and “winds reaching inland areas.” In “dry air continues over mountain,” articles are missing, while “on it’s way” uses the wrong form of the possessive. The final standalone “Finally” is also an incomplete sentence. Build shorter, complete sentences first, then combine stages with accurate clauses and punctuation.

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