Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-01

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 given pictogram demonstrates how one type of desert, named as rain-shadow desert and how it is formed. Overall, it include total seven steps starting from winds approach coast via sea and ends with the formation of desert.

To begin with, high level of forced wind flow come across the mountains. After that, due to high gust and the inclined angle of the mountains the flow of wind moves upwards. Moreover, temperature in the higher altitude is low due to that moist air rises and the air gets cools. Subsequently, the formation of clouds start and after some period the heavy rain fall take place.

Furthermore, rain fall continues between thousands of kilometers wide mountains. Thereafter, dry air form and continue to flow over mountains due to the moist air in the upper regain, dry air follows the leeward side of the mountain. At the end, this air reaches inland area with the high flow and the formation of small dust particles generate with the help pf that huge rain-shadow desert take place.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a clear, analytical overview of the process. While the student identifies the seven steps, the explanation of the final stage is slightly inaccurate compared to the typical scientific process shown in such diagrams, as it focuses on 'dust particles' rather than the arid conditions resulting from the lack of moisture. To improve, ensure that the summary highlights the contrast between the windward (wet) and leeward (dry) sides of the mountain more explicitly, as this is the core of the rain-shadow phenomenon.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Subsequently', and 'Furthermore' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly repetitive or forced. The referencing is generally clear, though the flow between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. The overall progression is logical, moving from the wind's approach to the final desert formation, which satisfies the requirements for a coherent response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'moist air', 'altitude', 'leeward side', and 'inland area' demonstrating a reasonable grasp of the topic. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'pictogram' (diagram is more appropriate), 'high gust' (gusts are usually specific events rather than a continuous flow), and 'upper regain' (likely a misspelling of 'region'). There are also minor errors like 'pf' instead of 'of'. Expanding the range of vocabulary to include more precise scientific terminology would help elevate the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'it include total seven steps' (should be 'includes'), 'the formation of clouds start' (should be 'starts'), and 'heavy rain fall take place' (should be 'takes place'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases, such as 'in the higher altitude' (at higher altitudes) and 'with the help pf that' (which is syntactically unclear). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to limit the score.

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