Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 reveals the steps include in the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, a large mountain across the coast of the ocean and on the other side inland. However, the formation of rain shadow desert commence when winds approach the coast and ended at dry winds reach inland areas. The main feature was rain falls at the hill top and release dry air continues downward motion.

Firstly, the hill side consists of thousands of Kilometres start from sea coast and finshes at land. The first step to begin the process of formation when air pushed upwards on the windward side the clouds formed, which results in rain falls.

Secondly, on the leeward side of the site rain fall makes the air dry that continues over mountain this was the 6 step and the upcoming step start when dry winds reach inland areas. As a result of these 7 steps the rain shadow desert was formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You identify the process as a sequence and include several central stages, including winds moving inland, clouds forming, rainfall, and dry air reaching the desert. The response also recognises the windward and leeward sides. However, the account is only partly complete: it does not clearly explain that moist air rises and cools before clouds form, and it incorrectly suggests that rain makes the air dry. The overview is also unclear, particularly “a large mountain across the coast of the ocean,” and the role of the rain-shadow desert is not explained. To strengthen the report, give a precise overview of the movement from sea to inland and describe how rainfall on the windward side leaves dry air to cross the mountain and reach the leeward area.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic structure, with an opening, an overview, and two paragraphs introduced by “Firstly” and “Secondly.” These markers help the reader recognise that the process has stages. However, the progression is not consistently clear: the first body paragraph jumps from the mountain’s scale to the air rising, while the second combines rainfall, dry air crossing the mountain, and the final stage in a crowded sentence. Some references, such as “the site” and “this was the 6 step,” are difficult to follow, and the overview repeats the start and end points without clearly linking the stages. Organise the body in the diagram’s exact sequence and use clear references to each side of the mountain.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “clouds,” “dry winds,” and “inland areas,” which shows some awareness of the diagram’s terminology. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, making parts of the description unclear. For example, “hill side” and “hill top” are less precise than “mountain slope” and “mountain peak,” while “rain falls at the hill top” does not accurately describe the diagram. “The formation … commence” is also an awkward choice for describing a process. Aim for precise verbs such as “rise,” “cool,” “condense,” and “continue,” and check spelling and word forms such as “finishes” and “kilometres.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a clause beginning “when air pushed upwards” and a result clause introduced by “which.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors sometimes make the sequence difficult to understand. For example, “The diagram reveals the steps include” needs a relative structure (“steps involved”), and “when air pushed upwards” is missing an auxiliary verb. The overview fragment “Overall, a large mountain…” has no complete main clause, while “the formation … commence” has a subject–verb agreement error. Punctuation is also weak in the long second paragraph, where clauses run together. Build shorter, complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses with accurate verb forms and punctuation.

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