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 illustrates one type of desert, how the formation of rain shadow deserts is formed.

Overall it consist of 7 major steps bigenning with winds approach coast and after that moist air rises and cool then clouds form and the last stage is dry winds reach inland areas.

It is a complex process in which at 1 stage winds flow from the sea to the coast side.After reaching at coastal site the winds hit to mountains and move upwards mostly hot and moist air is moving upward and cool on higher altitude. Moreover, other air is going windward side.Furthermore, from these cool and moist air clouds are formed then in next stage rain falls on mountains after that dry air is continues blowing over mountains and leeward side.

On 7th stage dry winds reach inland areas cover thousands of kilometers cover to complete the cycle of rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and give an overall summary, identifying the seven stages from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. The account also correctly places rain on the mountain area and describes air continuing over the mountains. However, some important details are unclear or incomplete: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form and rain falls on the windward side, while your description of “other air” going to the windward side is difficult to interpret. The overview mostly repeats the sequence rather than explaining the key contrast between the wet windward side and the dry leeward inland area where the desert forms. Make that contrast explicit and describe the final dry-air movement more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has an identifiable overall structure: an introduction, an overview, and a description of the stages. The sequence is generally understandable, and phrases such as “after reaching” and “in next stage” help show order. However, progression is not consistently smooth. The overview repeats several stages, while the main description moves between the windward side, clouds, and “other air” without clear links. Connectors such as “Moreover,” “Furthermore,” and “after that” are sometimes mechanical, and the final sentence repeats “cover” without a clear relationship between the distance and the desert’s formation. Group the stages into a clearer progression and use references such as “this air” only when their meaning is unmistakable.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “rain falls,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “flow,” “hit,” and “blowing.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural, such as “coastal site,” “other air,” and “cover thousands of kilometers cover.” The phrase “rain shadow desert” is also inconsistently written as a compound term. Aim for accurate process collocations and avoid repeating general verbs such as “cover”; for example, describe dry winds as “continuing inland” or “travelling across the region.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a sequence linked with “after that” and a clause beginning “in which.” The main stages can usually be understood, but errors in sentence construction and verb forms are noticeable. For example, “Overall it consist” lacks subject–verb agreement, “the formation … is formed” is redundant, and “dry air is continues blowing” combines incompatible verb forms. Some sentences also run together without clear punctuation, as in the description beginning “It is a complex process.” Practise forming accurate passive and active process sentences, such as “The air is forced upwards” and “The dry air continues over the mountain,” and check agreement and punctuation when joining stages.

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