Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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 formation of rain shadow deserts from the breeze came from the sea.It usally shows the cool air from the sea pushed upwards and moist air, rises and cools to form clouds and rain

In the first step, wind approach coast and wind pushed upwards, Then it moist air, rises and cools. As a result clouds are formed. After the formation of clouds the rain occurs and falls on the mountains covering thousands of kilomters wide on the land.

After the rains , dry air continues over the mountains at the leeward side of the mountain. Dry winds reach inland areas of the Rain shadow desert.

Dry air cover the whole inland area of the desert near the mountains which cause thirsts and its stops he growth of different plants for which we get different food items like wheat,crop,rice and other items. In case people do not survive in that areas because there was a lot of hunger and crises there. Many people also came in the deserts of some adventure.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the main sequence: winds arrive from the sea, rise over the mountains, cool, form clouds and produce rain, after which dry air moves inland. This shows a basic understanding of the process. However, the account is only partly focused on the diagram. The claim that rain falls “covering thousands of kilometres wide on the land” misuses the scale label, which indicates distance rather than the extent of rainfall. The final paragraph about thirst, food production, hunger and adventure is not shown in the visual and takes space away from explaining the process. To strengthen the response, give a concise overview of the windward-to-leeward change and describe only the stages and locations presented.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable sequence, moving from winds approaching the coast to rain over the mountains and then dry air reaching inland. Paragraph breaks also separate the process from the later comments. However, progression becomes less clear when the account repeats information—for example, “dry air continues over the mountains” is followed by “Dry air cover the whole inland area”—and then shifts to unsupported consequences. Linking phrases such as “In the first step,” “As a result” and “After” help, but some are used mechanically, and the opening sentences are difficult to follow because ideas are crowded together. Organise the stages into a clear beginning, middle and end, and use references such as “this air” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain,” “leeward side” and “inland areas,” so the reader can recognise the topic. There is also some attempt to describe cause and effect. However, the range is limited and several word choices or forms are inaccurate, such as “breeze came from the sea,” “rain shadow deserts” without consistent hyphenation, and “covering thousands of kilometres wide.” The later phrases “thirsts,” “growth of different plants” and “people also came in the deserts” are imprecise or unsuitable for describing this diagram. Aim for precise process language, such as “prevailing winds,” “precipitation” and “rain-shadow region,” and check spelling and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a cause-and-effect construction with “As a result” and a sentence beginning “After the rains.” However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make some sentences difficult to interpret. For example, “wind approach coast and wind pushed upwards” has problems with verb forms and articles, while “Then it moist air, rises and cools” lacks a clear grammatical structure. Agreement and sentence construction are also weak in “Dry air cover the whole inland area” and “which cause thirsts.” Punctuation and spacing are inconsistent, particularly in the opening. Practise accurate simple sentences first, then combine stages using controlled clauses such as “As the moist air rises, it cools and forms clouds.”

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