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 below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, the cycle in the diagram starts when the winds approach the coast and significantly travel to the top of the mountain and reside back towards the inland area.

In the cycle the wind from the sea, first approches the coast and is pushed upwards towards the peak of the mountain from the windward side. Then the moist air rises and cools while heading upwards and the clouds starts forming. These cloudes reaching at the top of the peak becomes heavy.

Moving ahead, water from the heavy clouds starts drizzling down in the form of rain. Then the dry air continues to move downwards above the slope of the mountain from leeward side. Dry winds then reaches inland areas by moving downwards. This cycle resides thousands of kilometers of distance to complete itself.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to rain on the mountain and dry winds reaching inland, and you mention the windward and leeward sides. However, the overview is unclear: saying the winds “reside back” does not accurately summarise the process, which is a one-way movement of moist air over the mountains followed by dry air continuing inland. Some details are imprecise, such as describing the clouds as becoming heavy, rather than clearly explaining that moisture falls as rain on the windward side. The response also contains 133 words, below the required 150, so the process is not developed in enough detail. Add a clearer overview and explain the stages and their locations more fully.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall arrangement: an overview is followed by two paragraphs describing the stages, and sequencing phrases such as “first,” “Then,” and “Moving ahead” help the reader follow the process. However, progression is sometimes weakened by unclear or mechanical linking. For example, “This cycle resides thousands of kilometers of distance to complete itself” does not clearly connect to the preceding stages or explain the diagram’s horizontal scale. References such as “These cloudes” and “the peak” are understandable but could be more precise. Organise the stages in a direct sequence and use links that express the actual relationship between them, such as cause and result, rather than relying mainly on time markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds,” and “dry winds,” which makes the topic clear. There is also some attempt at more descriptive language, as in “rises and cools.” However, the range is limited and several choices are inaccurate or unnatural: winds do not “reside back,” clouds do not “become heavy” in this context, and “drizzling down” is less suitable for describing the diagram’s rainfall. Spelling errors such as “approches” and “cloudes” are noticeable. Choose precise process verbs such as “move,” “condense,” and “precipitate,” and check spelling and collocations to make the description more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including the clause “while heading upwards,” and most of the process remains understandable. However, errors in agreement, verb forms, and sentence construction recur. For example, “the clouds starts forming” should use a plural verb, while “Dry winds then reaches” has the same agreement problem. The phrase “These cloudes reaching at the top of the peak becomes heavy” is structurally unclear, and “the wind … is pushed upwards” shifts awkwardly from plural winds to a singular subject. Use consistent subjects and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and clause structure. More accurate control of these patterns would make the sequence easier to read.

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

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