Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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 illustrate the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process of formation rain-shadow desert consists of seven steps. This starts from winds that approach the coast which then passes through multiple steps and lastly, dry winds reaching inland areas where it is formed.

In the first step, winds approach the sea and coast near the mountain, which are then pushed upwards. As the winds move upward they become moist. These then rise and cools on the windward side, where the process of condensation occurs and clouds are formed.

The rain then falls from the clouds on top of mountain and dry air continues over mountain towards the leeward side of mountain. The windward side and leeward side are parallel to eachother.

At last, dry winds then reach the inland areas where rain-shadow desert formation happens. The mountain is thousands of kilometres spread horizontally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and cover its main stages, including upward movement, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air reaching inland. However, some details are inaccurate or unclear: the winds approach from the sea, but they do not “become moist” as they rise; the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling. The statement that the two mountain sides are “parallel” is not a meaningful process feature, and the final claim that the mountain is thousands of kilometres wide misreads the scale marker, which indicates horizontal distance. The overview also says the desert “is formed” without clearly summarising the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. The response is five words below the required minimum; develop the overview and describe the stages more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by descriptions of the early, middle, and final stages. Sequencing expressions such as “In the first step” and “At last” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and an irrelevant interruption: “The windward side and leeward side are parallel to eachother” breaks the explanation of rainfall and dry air. Some references are also difficult to follow, particularly “These then rise and cools,” where the subject is unclear. Grouping the stages into clearer paragraphs and using precise references to “moist air,” “clouds,” and “dry air” would make the sequence more coherent and cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “condensation,” and “inland areas,” showing an adequate range for describing the diagram. Some choices, however, are inaccurate or awkward and reduce precision. “The winds become moist” does not express the diagram’s sequence as clearly as saying that moist air rises, while “where it is formed” leaves the desert’s formation unclear. “The mountain is thousands of kilometres spread horizontally” misuses the scale label, which refers to the distance shown rather than the mountain’s size. There are also small spelling or spacing issues, such as “eachother.” Choose collocations that describe the process accurately and avoid adding interpretations not shown in the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, for example, “As the winds move upward…” and “The rain then falls…,” but errors in agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction are noticeable. The opening “The diagram illustrate” needs subject–verb agreement, and “the process of formation rain-shadow desert” is missing grammatical links. In “These then rise and cools,” the verb does not agree with its subject, and the reference is unclear; “winds…which then passes” also shifts between plural and singular forms. Articles and plurals need attention in phrases such as “on top of mountain” and “over mountain.” These errors do not prevent the overall sequence from being understood, but more accurate sentence patterns and consistent subjects would improve control.

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