Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-30

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 provided picture gives information about the process of how rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the diagrams shows how wind travels thousands of kilometres from the coastal side of the sea to the top of the mountains and the wind reaches to the opposite base and rain-shadow deset is formed.

As the very first step starts when winds approach towards the coast of mountain where the wind is oushed upwards after wind hits the mountain where moist air rises and cools which result of clould formation. When there is rainfall the dry air continues downward over the mountain in the opposite side of the wind formation which is known as leeward side. When the dry wind reaches the insland areas, the dry wind cools the inland in the base of mountain which forms rain-shadow desert. As the process seens simple but wind travels thousands of kilometres from the windward side to leeward side.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages, from winds approaching the coast to rain falling on the windward side and dry air reaching inland to create the desert. The overview also identifies the broad movement across the mountains, which gives the reader a general picture of the process. However, some details are unclear or not fully supported by the diagram: the winds are pushed upwards by the mountains, and the dry air continues over the mountain rather than “downward” as a distinct labelled stage. The claim that the dry wind “cools the inland” is not shown; the diagram instead links dry winds reaching inland with the rain-shadow desert. Clarifying these points and describing the windward/leeward contrast more precisely would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a broadly logical order, using “As the very first step” and then moving from cloud formation to rainfall and inland conditions. The opening overview also helps establish the overall direction of movement. However, most of the stages are compressed into one long paragraph and several sentences, so the sequence is not always easy to follow. Some linking is mechanical or unclear, particularly “where the wind is pushed upwards after wind hits the mountain” and “in the opposite side of the wind formation.” The final sentence repeats the distance and direction already mentioned rather than adding a distinct concluding point. Separate the overview from the stage description and use clearer links between each stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “rainfall,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the topic. There is some repetition of “wind” and “mountain,” and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, such as “wind formation,” “dry wind cools the inland,” and “base of mountain.” Spelling errors in “oushed,” “clould,” “deset,” and “insland” also reduce precision. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the general process, but they make the description less natural and exact. Aim for consistent technical terms and check spelling, while varying repeated nouns where appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a sequence linked with “where” and a clause beginning “When there is rainfall.” However, control is uneven, and several errors make relationships between stages difficult to interpret. For example, “the diagrams shows” has a subject–verb agreement error, while “As the very first step starts when” combines incompatible sentence patterns. The sentence beginning “As the process seens simple” is also incomplete in structure, and articles and prepositions are sometimes missing or awkward, as in “base of mountain.” Use shorter, complete sentences to describe each stage, then combine them with carefully controlled clauses. This will improve accuracy without losing variety.

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