Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-02

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 sequence of steps that how a certain type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Overall it has seven steps to form a rain-shadow desert. In first step the winds above the sea approch coast. Secondly the winds pushed in upward direction by mountain. Thirdly moist air rises and cool because of lower temperature above mountain. In fourth step the clouds are formed upon reaching the windward side. In fifth step the clouds reached at the top of mountain and rain fall started.

In sixth step the dry air continues over mountain to downwards over the leeward side. Lastly the dry wind after travelling thousands of kilometers reaches the inland areas or rain-shadow desert.This is the complete cycle of the rain-shadow deserts formation.

Overall this cycle consist of the seven steps.The first 5 step include the formation of clouds by wind and finally rain falls. The other 2 steps demonstrates the dry air reaching inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and identify the key contrast between the wet windward side and the dry inland area. The account correctly describes winds approaching from the sea, rising over the mountains, producing rain, and continuing as dry air towards the rain-shadow desert. However, some stages are not fully or precisely reported: the clouds form after moist air rises and cools, rather than “upon reaching the windward side,” and the rain falls on the windward side before the air crosses the mountain. The overview also repeats the seven-step count instead of clearly summarising the process’s main cause and outcome. To strengthen the response, explain how the mountain creates rainfall on one side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side, while keeping each stage accurate.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The numbered sequence and transitions such as “Secondly,” “In sixth step,” and “Lastly” make the order of events easy to follow. The response also separates the process into paragraphs, which helps the reader locate the overview and stages. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the seven-step summary appears twice, and “This is the complete cycle” adds little because the process is not a cycle. Some linking is mechanical, with nearly every stage introduced by a numbered transition. The final sentence groups the first five and last two steps, but does not develop the relationship between them. Use a concise overview followed by a clearly grouped description, and vary links by showing cause and result, such as how rising air cools and leads to rainfall.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “dry air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which allows the reader to understand the main stages. There is also some useful variation between “winds” and “air.” However, several choices are imprecise or awkward for describing a diagram: “clouds reached at the top” and “rain fall started” do not express the process naturally, while “complete cycle” inaccurately suggests that the stages repeat. Spelling errors such as “approch” and “kilometers” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process collocations, for example “clouds form,” “precipitation falls,” and “dry air descends,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response uses a mixture of simple statements and some longer structures, and the sequence remains understandable despite grammatical errors. However, several sentence patterns are incomplete or inaccurate, including “the sequence of steps that how” and “In first step the winds…” The passive construction in “the winds pushed in upward direction by mountain” is missing an auxiliary, and “this cycle consist” has a subject–verb agreement error. Articles and plurals also need attention in phrases such as “the seven steps” and “the first 5 step.” To improve, practise accurate passive forms (“winds are pushed upwards”), use complete clauses, and check agreement and articles. More varied complex sentences will help express cause and sequence without sacrificing control.

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