Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-04

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 6.5)

The diagram illustrates how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, it can be seen that moist air from the sea moves towards the mountains, where it cools and produces rain. After that, the dry air passes over the mountain and creates a dry desert area on the other side.

At the beginning of the process, winds approach the coast from the sea and are pushed upwards when they reach the mountains. As the moist air rises, it becomes cooler due to the lower temperature at higher altitude. Because of this cooling, clouds start to form on the windward side of the mountain. After some time, these clouds become heavy and rain falls on this side. Therefore, this area receives plenty of rainfall and has more water.

In contrast, after the air has released most of its moisture, it continues to move across the top of the mountain. The air is now dry and travels down the leeward side. Since there is very little moisture left, no clouds or rainfall are formed in this region. Finally, the dry winds reach the inland area, where only a small amount of rain falls. As a result, a rain-shadow desert is formed and this area remains dry for a long period of time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response effectively covers all stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly identified the main features, such as the movement of moist air, the cooling effect over the mountains, the resulting precipitation on the windward side, and the subsequent dry conditions on the leeward side. The information is logically selected and presented, providing a clear summary of the diagram. The overview paragraph successfully captures the essence of the process, and the body paragraphs provide sufficient detail to support the main points. The response is well-balanced and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from the initial stage to the final outcome. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'At the beginning of the process', 'In contrast', and 'As a result', which help guide the reader through the sequence of events. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between the different stages of the process is well-articulated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process accurately. Terms such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'moisture', and 'altitude' demonstrate a good command of topic-specific language. While the vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate for the task, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items to reach the highest band. The word choices are natural and contribute to the clarity of the explanation, with no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. You have successfully used a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'As the moist air rises, it becomes cooler due to the lower temperature at higher altitude.' The punctuation is accurate, and the sentence structures are varied. There are very few errors, and those that exist are minor and do not affect the clarity of the message. The control over complex sentence forms is consistent throughout the response.

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.