Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-25

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 shows the formation of rain-shadow in deserts.

Overall, this process shows seven stages, starts with wind approach coast from sea side and end with dry winds reach inland areas towards the rain shadow desert.

To begin with, the wind is coming from the sea side directly towards the mountain, when the wind reachs to mountains, it pushed upward for genetraing that wind into the moist air when its rises it started cool down. From this moist air the cloud formation is starting at the peak of the mountains. The length of mountains are thousands in kilometres from sea coast to rain shadow desert.

Next, when the cloud formation is completed the rain falls starting at the top of the mountains, after raining the remaining dry air continues over the mountains from the leeward side. After dry wind reach to inland areas it started following towards the rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the process as having seven stages and give a relevant overview from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching the inland desert. The main sequence is mostly represented, including uplift, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall and the continuation of dry air over the mountains. However, some details are unclear or imprecise: the wind is not transformed into moist air by being pushed upwards; rather, moist air rises and cools, leading to clouds and rain on the windward side. The description of the rain-shadow desert’s location could also be more direct. To strengthen the response, explain the contrast between the rainy windward slope and the dry leeward inland area more clearly, while keeping each stage factually precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an overview is followed by two paragraphs describing the stages, and sequencing phrases such as “To begin with” and “Next” help the reader follow the process. The progression from the coast to the mountains and then inland is generally easy to understand. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly “From this moist air the cloud formation is starting” and “After dry wind reach to inland areas it started following towards the rain shadow desert.” The long first process sentence also combines several stages, making their relationships harder to follow. Use shorter sentences to separate cause and result, and refer consistently to “the air” or “the winds” so that each step is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “cloud formation,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which allows you to cover the diagram’s main features. There are also attempts to describe change and sequence. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “wind approach coast,” “genetraing that wind into the moist air,” and “the length of mountains are thousands in kilometres.” These expressions sometimes obscure the intended meaning. Aim for precise process language, for example, winds “approach the coast,” air “rises and cools,” and the diagram indicates a distance of “thousands of kilometres.” Check spelling and use natural noun phrases rather than repeating “formation” where a simpler verb is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including clauses beginning with “when” and “after,” and the overall meaning is usually recoverable. However, some sentence structures are faulty, especially where several stages are joined together: “when the wind reachs to mountains, it pushed upward” shifts tense and has an unclear subject, while “After dry wind reach to inland areas it started following” has problems with verb forms and sentence construction. There are also errors in agreement and articles, as in “The length of mountains are.” Use the present simple consistently for a process, check subject–verb agreement, and divide long sequences into complete sentences. More accurate control of these patterns would make your range easier to follow.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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