Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

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)

In this picture we can clearly the whole process of cloud formation on the rain shadow desert.At first,wind approaches the coast and was pushed upward by the drag force of mountain which helps air to cool down and form clouds, which then get dragged again upwards and the rain fall happens at the winward area.whereas,on the otherside dry air continues to hover around the mountain and it is dragged downwards and reaches the inland area.Due to sea being present at one side cool breeze is flowing which the transforms into cloud which causes rainfall.on the otherhand due to dry deserted area,the air remains hotter and it just flows up and down and has no effect on the other side due mountain peak being in between both sides.No effect of any side reaches to the other side which makes this kind of rain shadow deserts a rare site for people or tourists.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the main sequence: winds approach the coast, rise over the mountains, cool and form clouds, rain falls on the windward side, and drier air continues inland. This gives the reader a relevant account of the process. However, the description is only partly accurate and developed. The claim that air is “dragged downwards” and that the desert is “hotter” is not shown in the diagram, and the explanation that the mountain prevents “no effect” from reaching the other side oversimplifies the process. The response also lacks a clear overview of the key contrast: moisture is lost on the windward side, leaving dry winds to create a rain-shadow inland. Focus on the labelled stages and avoid adding unsupported causes or effects.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response follows a broadly chronological order, moving from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas, so the basic process can be followed. However, the ideas are packed into one continuous paragraph, and the progression becomes difficult to track when the account shifts to “Due to sea being present” and “on the otherhand.” These points repeat earlier information rather than clearly advancing the explanation. Some linking expressions, such as “whereas” and “on the otherhand,” signal contrast, but the relationships between ideas are not always clear. Organise the stages into a concise introduction or overview followed by a logically sequenced explanation, and use references such as “this air” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “mountain,” “cool,” “clouds,” “rainfall,” and “inland,” which helps communicate the topic. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “windward area” and “rain shadow deserts.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for describing the diagram: “drag force,” “hover around the mountain,” and “rare site for people or tourists” do not fit the process, while “winward” is misspelled. Repetition of “air,” “side,” and “which” also limits precision. Build a small set of accurate process terms—such as “moist air,” “precipitation,” “leeward side,” and “dry winds”—and use them consistently rather than adding speculative descriptions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect several stages using subordinate clauses and contrast markers, for example, “which helps air to cool down and form clouds” and “whereas… dry air continues.” This shows some effort to use more than simple sentences. However, the long sentence structures are often faulty or difficult to follow, and there are frequent problems with verb forms, articles, agreement, and punctuation. For instance, “wind approaches the coast and was pushed upward” shifts tense, while “the rain fall happens” and “the air remains hotter” are not well controlled grammatically. Missing spaces after full stops and commas also make the text harder to read. Use shorter, complete sentences and keep the process consistently in the present simple, checking each clause for a clear subject and verb.

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