Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-05

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 illustration shows the process of formation of the the rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the rain - shadow desert creates through winds, clouds form, rain falls, dry air slided over the mountain and the dry winds reach inland areas.

In the sea, winds will approach the coast which cause to uplift the winds and will going to push upwards thru the mountan side. Then, the air will be moist and cool which create clouds. In the side of windward the clouds will be form. After, It will create rain.The rain will falls in the top of the mountain. It cause to dry the air. The dry air will goes down in the Leeward side and will reach the inland areas. The place will show the rain-shadow desert.

Therefore, the formation of the rain-shadow deserts form in the mutiple process and it will reach a thousand of kilometres starting from the sea to reach the desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main stages and give an overall account: winds move from the sea towards the mountains, rise and cool, produce clouds and rain, then continue inland as dry air. This is relevant and broadly reflects the diagram. However, the overview is not fully clear about the cause-and-effect sequence, and some details are less accurately expressed: the diagram shows rain falling on the windward side, after which dry air crosses the mountain and reaches the inland desert. The final reference to “a thousand of kilometres” is not precise; the diagram indicates a horizontal scale of thousands of kilometres, rather than a measured distance to the desert. Make the overview more precise and explain the windward-to-leeward transition clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, an overview and a paragraph describing the stages. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and words such as “Then,” “After” and “Therefore” help signal progression. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, particularly “Overall, the rain-shadow desert creates through winds” and “It cause to dry the air.” The final paragraph repeats the idea of a multi-stage process rather than adding a clear concluding feature. Improve progression by using a more direct overview and linking each stage through cause and result—for example, explain that rain removes moisture before the air crosses the mountain and descends on the leeward side.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “coast,” “windward,” “clouds,” “rain,” “Leeward side” and “inland areas,” so the reader can identify the main features. There are also attempts to describe movement and change. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “the desert creates through winds,” “slided over the mountain” and “the place will show the rain-shadow desert.” Spelling errors such as “mountan” and “mutiple” also reduce precision. Choose standard process language and use it consistently: winds are forced upwards, moisture condenses, precipitation falls, and dry air descends on the leeward side. This would make the description more precise and natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentences, including clauses linked with “which,” and the overall sequence remains understandable. However, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles and sentence construction are frequent enough to limit clarity. Examples include “the rain-shadow desert creates,” “which cause to uplift,” “will going to push,” “the clouds will be form” and “The rain will falls.” These forms make the process sound uncertain and obscure the relationships between stages. Use the present simple for a general process, such as “winds approach,” “the air rises and cools,” and “rain falls.” Check subject–verb agreement and build complete clauses; also avoid unnecessary future forms and capitalisation within sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.