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 how the rain shadow desert is formed step by step.

Overall, it can be seen that the process pass by different steps that are mainly 7 main steps that last of period of time over thousands of kilometres staring from the winds approachig coast by the sea to the dry winds reaching inland passing by the big mountains.

The rain shadow desert phenomenon start by the wind approaching the coast by the sea then it startrs pushing upwards the montains. The moist air rises and cools towrad the windward side then the clouds start forming. After that, the rain start falling. After the rain, the dry air continues over mountain to the leeward side than the dry winds reach inland areas. This procees happend on thousand of kilometrs from the sea to the montains to finally reaching the inland. This final step is how the rain shadow desert happens.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence accurately, from winds approaching the coast through uplift, cooling, cloud formation and rainfall to dry air crossing the mountains and reaching inland areas. The overview also identifies the process as occurring over thousands of kilometres, which reflects the diagram. This is a relevant account of the stages, but some features are less fully explained: for example, you do not clearly state that the rain-shadow desert forms on the inland, leeward side because the air has lost moisture after rainfall. The phrase “the process pass by different steps” is also too general to serve as a precise overview. Make the cause-and-effect relationship explicit and distinguish the windward and leeward sides more clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall order: an introduction and overview are followed by a paragraph describing the stages in sequence. Connectors such as “then,” “After that,” and “After the rain” help the reader follow the process. However, the linking is somewhat repetitive and occasionally awkward, particularly in the long final paragraph, where several stages are joined with “then” and “to.” The overview sentence also combines the number of steps, duration, and route in a way that makes the relationships less clear. Use more controlled sequencing and divide information into clearer units—for instance, describe the windward-side changes first, then the movement of dry air to the inland desert. This would make the progression easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “clouds,” and “dry winds,” so the reader can understand the subject. However, the range is limited and some word choices or collocations are imprecise, such as “the process pass by different steps,” “pushing upwards the mountains,” and “the rain shadow desert happens.” Spelling errors—including “approachig,” “montains,” and “kilometrs”—also reduce accuracy and polish. Aim for precise process language and check spelling carefully. For example, describe winds as being forced upwards over the mountains, and say that the desert forms in the inland rain-shadow area rather than that it “happens.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more connected sentences, and the sequence is generally understandable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur in several places. Examples include “the process pass” instead of “the process passes,” “the phenomenon start” instead of “starts,” and “the rain start falling” instead of “the rain starts falling.” The overview phrase “that last of period of time” is also grammatically unclear, while “than” is used where “then” is needed. These errors sometimes make the relationships between stages less clear. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes and build longer sentences around a clear subject and verb, checking agreement and articles before finishing.

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