Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-01

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 illustrates the natural process of formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the diagram shows seven stages of formation of rain-shadow deserts. The diagram shows that rising moist air create cloud for rainfall, and dryer air on leeward side. Initially the wind approach coast near mountain range which push upwards to windward side. Upwards wind moist air and cool the temperature which help to firm clouds. Enough moist cloud create a rain falls on windward side.

After rainfall only dry air continues over the mountain on leeward side. Dry air reach to inland areas create dry condition which finally form a rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You identify the process as the formation of a rain-shadow desert and cover its main direction: moist air rises on the windward side, rain falls, and dry air continues inland on the leeward side. This gives the reader the basic sequence. However, the account is brief and some stages are unclear or inaccurately expressed, such as “Upwards wind moist air” and “Enough moist cloud create a rain falls.” The overview mentions seven stages but does not clearly summarise the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions inland. The response also does not meet the required minimum length, so several stages and their relationships remain under-developed. Explain each stage more fully and make the overall pattern explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by a description of the earlier stages and then the later movement of dry air. “After rainfall” effectively signals the transition from precipitation to the leeward side. This logical sequence makes the process broadly understandable. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical because “The diagram shows” is repeated, and links between stages are not always clear. For example, “Upwards wind moist air and cool the temperature which help to firm clouds” compresses several steps without showing their relationships accurately. Use a wider range of precise sequencing and cause-and-effect links, and give each stage enough space to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “rainfall,” “inland areas,” and “rain-shadow desert.” These terms show an adequate range for describing the diagram, and the reader can generally follow the intended meaning. Some word choices and forms are inaccurate or awkward, however: “dryer air” is less suitable than “drier air,” “firm clouds” does not express cloud formation, and “create dry condition” is imprecise. “Rain falls” is also more naturally described as precipitation occurring. Aim for accurate process collocations and avoid repeating general words such as “create”; this will make the description more precise without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “which finally form a rain shadow desert” and a cause-and-effect construction with “which help.” The overall meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make some stages difficult to interpret. For example, “rising moist air create” needs a singular verb, while “the wind approach coast” lacks appropriate agreement and articles. The sentence beginning “Upwards wind moist air” is not grammatically complete, and “Dry air reach to inland areas” has problems with agreement and the verb pattern. Practise building complete clauses and checking subject–verb agreement, articles, and verb forms.

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

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