Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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 7.0)

The diagram elucidates the development of rain-shadow desert.

Taking a general overview, there are in total 7 steps which occurs over thousands of kilometers that completes the formation of desert. The beginning and the conclusion of the creation of desert includes wind as an procedure.

It is pellucid that the creation of rain-shadow desert begins from the sea blowing wind towards the coast of the sea. Further, the winds are pushed up to the mountains which then causes the moist air to rise and cool towards the Windward side. The cooling of the air leads to the formation of clouds which precipitates around the top of the mountain on Windward side.

Moving further, the precipitation of the rain flows downhill, while the air continues over the mountain and becomes drier towards the Leeward side. At the end, the dry wind reaches inland areas, eventually forming a rain-shadow desert. Thus, overall, the Windward side remains moist and the Leeward side remains dry. The entire process of formation of rain-shadow desert occurs over long distance of thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram well. You have successfully identified the key stages, from the sea-based wind to the formation of the rain-shadow desert on the leeward side. The overview is clear, and you have made relevant comparisons between the windward and leeward sides. However, the claim that there are '7 steps' is not explicitly supported by the diagram, which could be seen as an over-generalisation or an attempt to impose a structure not present in the visual data. To reach a higher band, ensure your summary relies strictly on the information provided in the diagram rather than external assumptions about the number of steps.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organised, with a clear progression from the start of the process to the final outcome. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the overview from the detailed description. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Further', 'Moving further', and 'Thus' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the first paragraph ('the creation of desert') is a bit repetitive. The flow is generally smooth, and the information is presented in a way that is easy to follow, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'precipitates', 'windward', and 'leeward' accurately. There are some instances of slightly unnatural word choices, such as 'pellucid' (which is overly formal and rarely used in this context) and 'wind as an procedure'. While these do not impede communication, they highlight a need for more natural collocation. The vocabulary is adequate for the task, but to achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise academic collocations rather than relying on less common, slightly awkward synonyms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'the winds are pushed up to the mountains which then causes the moist air to rise'. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'there are in total 7 steps which occurs' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'over long distance' (missing article). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the process. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the sentence variety is sufficient to convey the information clearly. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage will help improve your accuracy.

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

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