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 diagram demonstrates the formation of rain shadow deserts while this formation spread around thousands of kilometres.

Overall, It clear that their have 7 stages to form a rain shadow deserts. the entry figuare we can see the process had been started in a sea and reached to lands.

To begin with , stage one by winds approach the small amount of water bubblies pushed upwords directions trought wind than moist air formed rose and converted into cools due to high mountains have two areas their was wind ward side and less ward side. the major role was mountains while reaching the peack of hills we can seen rain fall converted into dry air.however the moist air contain water bubblies after words its formed into clouds following this rain drops occurs at the peak of the mountain. until this occurs in one of the hill.

At the stage leeward side we can seen the dry air continues fall throught hill, the last stage of the figure shows that dry winds reached in land areas .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the diagram as a process and include its broad direction: winds come from the sea, cross the mountains, and reach inland as dry winds. You also mention cloud formation and rainfall on the mountain. However, the stages are not reported clearly or accurately enough throughout. For example, the opening description of “a small amount of water bubblies” being pushed upwards is not shown in the diagram, and the sequence of moist air rising and cooling, clouds forming, and rain falling becomes confused. The overview says there are seven stages but does not clearly summarise the key cause-and-effect pattern. To strengthen the report, describe each stage in order and explain that moisture is lost on the windward side, leaving dry air to descend and continue inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is some organisation: an opening, an overview, and a longer description of the process, with markers such as “To begin with,” “however,” and “At the stage.” The reader can follow the general movement from the sea towards inland areas. However, progression is uneven because several stages are combined or repeated, and the contrastive “however” does not clearly signal a contrast. The long middle section moves between rising air, mountain sides, rainfall, and clouds without a consistent sequence, while references such as “this” and “until this occurs” are unclear. Use one paragraph for the overview and another for the ordered stages, linking each step with precise sequencing expressions such as “as a result” and “subsequently.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “dry air,” “clouds,” “rain,” “windward side,” and “leeward side,” which helps convey the topic. However, the range is limited and several inaccurate or unclear choices make parts difficult to understand. Phrases such as “water bubblies,” “entry figuare,” and “less ward side” do not express the diagram’s labels accurately; “converted into cools” is also an unsuitable collocation. Spelling errors, including “upwords” and “peack,” further reduce clarity. Build a more precise set of process terms and use the diagram’s labels consistently—for example, “moisture,” “rises,” “cools,” “precipitation,” and “leeward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to connect ideas in longer sentences, and the response includes both simple statements and clauses introduced by words such as “while” and “however.” However, the range is limited in practice because many sentences are difficult to parse, and attempts at complex structures are often faulty. For example, “Overall, It clear that their have 7 stages” has problems with the verb, subject, and agreement, while “the dry air continues fall throught hill” lacks a required verb form and has an unclear grammatical pattern. Articles, plurals, and sentence boundaries are also inconsistently controlled. Practise writing one clear sentence for each stage, checking subject–verb agreement and verb forms, then combine related steps only when the relationship is grammatically secure.

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