Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-03

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 how one type of desert is known as a rain-shadow desertis formed.Overall, formation of rain-shadow deserts ,starts from winds approach coast and finished as a dry wind reach inland areas.Besides,this process contain thousands of kilometers area ,for completing the process.

Sea water from the coaster side,winds were approaches coast then again winds were pushed upward.Morever,in the windward side moist air rises and cools.for more information,clouds were formed here ,untill rain start to fall in the mountains.

In leeward side,dry air were continued over the mountain along with the side with mountain where dry winds reach . After falling to the inland areas rain shadow desert have made. thhis process take a huge place such as thousands of kilometers. In addito, this process is in between sea area and inland area. Thus type of desert is known as rain-shadow desert which is a long sheduled process which contain 3 method of diversity such as sea,mountain and inland area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a process and report its main sequence: coastal winds rise over the mountains, moisture cools and forms clouds, rain falls, and dry air continues inland to create a rain-shadow desert. This gives the reader a relevant account of the key stages. However, some details are unclear or inaccurate: “Sea water from the coaster side” suggests seawater is involved in the process, whereas the diagram shows winds approaching from the sea. The statement that the process “contain thousands of kilometers area” misreads the scale marker, which indicates the horizontal distance covered, not an area or a duration. Your overview also says the process “finished as a dry wind reach inland areas,” but could more clearly explain the contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry leeward side. Develop that comparison more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable opening, overview and two body paragraphs, and it generally follows the diagram from the coast towards the inland desert. This provides some overall organisation. However, progression is weakened by unclear links and repeated information: the final paragraph restates that dry winds reach inland and that the desert is formed, then adds that the process is “between sea area and inland area.” Connectors such as “Besides,” “Morever,” “for more information,” and “In addito” are either awkward or do not clearly show the relationship between ideas. Some references are also difficult to follow, particularly “along with the side with mountain.” Group the stages into a clear sequence and use a small number of accurate links, such as “As a result” and “On the leeward side,” to make relationships explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “clouds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps convey the topic. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate enough to make parts difficult to interpret. “Sea water from the coaster side” does not accurately describe winds approaching from the coast, while “long sheduled process” and “3 method of diversity” do not communicate a clear meaning. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “Morever,” “thhis,” and “addito.” Aim for precise, standard process language and avoid adding vague phrases that are not shown in the diagram. For example, describe the “horizontal distance” rather than calling it an area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentences, and the overall sequence can usually be understood. However, control of verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence boundaries is inconsistent. For example, “winds were approaches coast” combines an incorrect verb form with a missing article, and “dry air were continued” has a subject–verb agreement problem and an unsuitable passive construction. In “Overall, formation of rain-shadow deserts, starts,” the article and comma placement are problematic. Several sentences also run together without reliable punctuation, as in the opening where “formed.Overall” has no space after the full stop. Use a consistent present tense for a process diagram, check singular and plural subjects, and build shorter, complete sentences before attempting longer structures.

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