Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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 Illustrated Figure depicts how the rain- shadow deserts are formed and it comprises every steps.

Overall, seven steps are described briefly starting with winds approach coast, then the corresponding wind pushed upwards due to that air cools down and till dry wind inland areas.

Firstly, the wind from the sea approach towards coast and it gets pushed upwards because of this, the air hikes up and the temperature decreases and it gets cooled.

Furthermore, due to rise in temperature rain starts falling and dry air directly moves over the mountain. As a result, the following dry air reaches the inland areas and the rain shadow desert is formed and this whole pathway is thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the process and its broad direction, from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland, and you mention the mountain, rainfall and desert. However, the account is very brief and does not clearly report several key stages: clouds forming, rain falling on the windward side, and dry air crossing the leeward side. The explanation that rain falls “due to rise in temperature” misrepresents the diagram, which shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form and precipitation occurs. The overview also says the steps are described “briefly” rather than summarising the main pattern. The response is 33 words below the required minimum, leaving important details underdeveloped. Add a clear overview and explain the sequence and contrast between the wet windward and dry leeward sides.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall order: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph beginning “Firstly” and a final stage introduced by “As a result.” This helps the reader follow the general movement from coast to inland. However, the progression is compressed into a few long sentences, and links such as “Furthermore” do not accurately signal the relationship between the stages. The overview sentence is also difficult to follow because several stages are joined together without clear boundaries. Use separate sentences or paragraphs for the rising, cooling and rainfall stages, then for the dry air crossing the mountain and reaching inland. More precise sequencing words would make the connections less mechanical and clarify the process.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “temperature decreases,” “dry air,” “mountain” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally recognisable. However, the range is limited and several choices are imprecise or repetitive. “The air hikes up” is informal and does not describe the process naturally; “rises” or “is forced upwards” would be more suitable. “Due to rise in temperature” gives the wrong relationship and should refer to cooling, while “the following dry air” is unclear. The phrase “comprises every steps” is also awkward and does not accurately express the diagram’s sequence. Use precise terms such as “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side” and “precipitation” to describe the stages more accurately.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sequence linked with “because of this” and a result clause beginning “As a result.” However, control is inconsistent, particularly with subject–verb agreement, articles and plural forms. For example, “the wind … approach” should be “the wind … approaches,” and “every steps” should be “every step.” The sentence beginning “Overall” also shifts awkwardly between “winds approach” and “wind pushed upwards,” making the sequence difficult to parse. In “due to rise in temperature,” an article is missing (“due to a rise”), and the long final sentence would be clearer if divided. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions and use shorter sentences to control the stages.

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