Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-29

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)

To the illustrates the diagram show how the one side of desert show the rains and how the other side of dry area of the desert.

overall, this is formation of rain-shadow in desert have two different parts firstly is rainny and other is dry, in this diagram shows the process of formation the winds breeze the sea level and approach the water upwards into the windward side and convert into cloud form than the rain fall starts. And the dry air continues over the mountain into the leeward side and goes into the land.

Firstly, the cool air starts and the water pushed into next stage, the moist air rises cools and take in windward side through windward side water convert into clouds form after the through this process lots of clouds form and then all these clouds the cause of rainfall.

secondly, the thousands of kilometers water vapours take over the mountain level and the air dry the water and takes into leeward side and in next step the hot and dry wind reach inland areas and covert into the dry desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages of the process, including winds approaching from the sea, air rising and cooling, cloud formation, rainfall on the windward side, and dry air moving inland beyond the mountains. Your overview also identifies the contrast between the rainy and dry sides, which is central to the diagram. Some details, however, are unclear or inaccurate: “the thousands of kilometers water vapours take over the mountain level” misrepresents the scale marker, which indicates distance rather than water vapour, and “hot” air is not specified. The sequence is also repeated rather than clearly summarised. To develop the response further, describe the cause-and-effect relationship more precisely and distinguish the windward and leeward sides throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an identifiable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs beginning “Firstly” and “secondly.” These markers help the reader recognise that the process has stages. However, progression is not consistently clear because the first two paragraphs repeat cloud formation and rainfall, while the final paragraph introduces the scale in a confusing way. Linking phrases such as “after the through this process” and “in next step” are awkward or unclear, and references such as “this process” do not always point to a precise stage. Organise the stages once in their diagram order, using one paragraph for the overview and one for the sequence, with clear links such as “as a result” and “then.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use several relevant process terms, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “clouds,” and “rainfall,” showing an adequate vocabulary base for describing the diagram. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “water vapours” and “rain-shadow,” but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “winds breeze the sea level,” “water pushed into next stage,” and “convert into cloud form” make the process difficult to picture. “Hot and dry wind” adds a quality not shown in the diagram. Aim for precise collocations and consistent terms for air and wind, rather than repeating “water” where “moist air” or “water vapour” is intended.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

You attempt both simple statements and longer sentences linked with words such as “and,” “after,” and “than,” so there is some variety in sentence construction. However, errors in sentence formation and verb patterns often make the relationships between stages unclear. For example, “To the illustrates the diagram show” has an incomplete, confused structure, while “the moist air rises cools and take in windward side” lacks consistent verb forms and clear grammatical links. Articles and agreement are also unreliable, as in “formation of rain-shadow in desert have two different parts.” Use a clear subject and verb for each stage, and check tense and agreement—for example, “Moist air rises, cools, and forms clouds.” Punctuation would also help separate the process steps.

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

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