Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-07

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates the formation process of the rain-shadow desert, starting from the wind blowing from the sea side to the final step of desert formation.

The first step starts by the approaching of wind to the mountains near the coast and then rising upward. It causes an accumulation of moist air coming from the sea that condese and form clouds. The next step involves rain fall on the Windward side of the mountain.

However, dry air continues its journey toward the desert side, where it runs over the Leeward side towards the inland areas. The air on this side is mainly a dry air that lack moisture coming from the sea, which was accumulated in the clouds at the Windward side. The mountains span for thousands of kilometers in width where all of this steps occur. Apparently, the two sides are totally different, where the Windward side is rainy and moist, while the Leeward side is completely dry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland, and you identify the key contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry leeward side. This gives the reader a sound overall account of the process. Some details, however, are less fully or precisely reported: the diagram specifically shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, whereas your account says it “condese and form clouds” without clearly describing the cooling stage. The final arrival of dry winds in the inland rain-shadow desert could also be stated more explicitly. The claim that the mountains span thousands of kilometres is not supported by the diagram; that label indicates the horizontal scale. More precise coverage of these stages would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression, moving from the coastal winds to rainfall and then to the inland dry area. The paragraph break also helps distinguish the windward and leeward stages, and linking expressions such as “The next step” and “However” guide the reader through the process. Some connections are less clear or slightly mechanical: “The first step starts by the approaching of wind” is an awkward opening, and “It causes an accumulation” has an unclear reference, since the reader must infer what “It” refers to. The final sentences repeat the contrast between the two sides rather than adding a distinct concluding overview. Clearer referencing and more purposeful links between stages would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “clouds,” “Windward side,” “Leeward side,” and “inland areas,” which allows the main stages to be understood. There are also attempts at more specific wording, such as “accumulation” and “journey.” However, some choices are inaccurate or unnatural: “condese” is misspelled, “rain fall” is not the natural form for precipitation, and “a dry air” is an unsuitable phrase. “Desert side” is also less precise than the diagram’s leeward or inland area. These issues do not prevent understanding, but more accurate collocations and consistent use of geographical terms would improve precision and control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mixture of simple and more complex structures, including the relative clause in “where it runs over the Leeward side” and the contrast clause beginning “while.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors persist. For example, “the approaching of wind” uses an awkward noun construction, “It causes” has an unclear antecedent, and “the air … that lack moisture” has a subject–verb agreement error. The sentence “The mountains span for thousands of kilometers in width” also has an inaccurate grammatical pattern for describing extent. Work on articles, agreement, and clear clause references, while retaining your attempts at complex sentences, to make the description more consistently accurate.

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