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 shows how rain-shadow desert formed which is one of the type of desert.

Overall, the formation of rain-shadow deserts consist of seven steps. Where winds approached the coast from sea first and travelled through the rest of phases from pushing up to moving down making the wind dry and pass it to inland areas.

Initially, winds approaches the coast from sea pushes upwards to windward side of mountains. Pushed futher upward make it into moist air and then rises and cools it to make them into clouds. After clouds form it turn into rain falls.

Regarding the remaining steps, after the rain falls the dry air moves downward continues over the leeward side of mountain. The winds travelled from sea turn into dry air through mountains over thousands of kilometres and at last it moves to inland areas making the rain-shadow desert process completed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as having seven stages and describe its broad movement from the sea, over the mountains, and towards inland areas. The account also includes the key sequence of cloud formation and rainfall on the windward side, followed by dry air crossing the leeward side. However, some stages are unclear or inaccurately expressed: for example, “Pushed futher upward make it into moist air” does not clearly explain that moist air rises and cools, and the final link between dry winds and the desert is only briefly stated. The response is also 4 words below the required 150-word minimum. To strengthen coverage, explain more precisely how the mountain causes uplift and rainfall, and how the resulting dry winds create the rain-shadow desert inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the earlier and later stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially” and “Regarding the remaining steps” help the reader follow the process, and the stages are generally presented in the correct order. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The overview’s sentence beginning “Where winds approached…” is not a complete sentence, while “After clouds form it turn into rain falls” makes the relationship between clouds and precipitation difficult to follow. Referencing in “it” and “them” is also sometimes unclear. Use complete sentences and clearer links such as “As the air cools, clouds form, and rain then falls on the windward side.”

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “approached,” “travelled,” and “continues.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or combinations are inaccurate, making parts of the process hard to understand. For instance, “pushing up to moving down” is imprecise, and “making the rain-shadow desert process completed” is unnatural. Spelling errors such as “futher” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process verbs and natural collocations, for example “is forced upwards,” “cools and condenses,” and “creates a dry region inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including a sequence of stages joined with “and” and “after.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors in verb forms, agreement, and sentence construction sometimes make the meaning difficult to follow. Examples include “winds approaches,” “Pushed futher upward make it,” and “it turn into rain falls.” The overview also contains a fragment beginning “Where winds approached…”. Articles and plurals need attention in phrases such as “one of the type of desert” and “mountain.” Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and correctly matched verb, such as “The winds approach the coast and are forced upwards by the mountains.”

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