Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 illustrates the mechanism of formation of a rain-shadow desert by the action of moist and dry air, across a mountain over thousands of kilometres.

Overall, the desert is created as a result of the moisture devoid air, which cannot cause rainfall on the leeward side and the inland, hence giving rise to high temperature and dry atmosphere.

Initially, the wind blowing at sea level approaches the sea coast, which is then forcefully pushed upwards towards the windward side. As the air rises, it retains moisture and cools down to form clouds. At the peak of the mountain, the clouds pour down as rain, therefore the windward side experiences heavy rainfall.

Once the air has lost most of its moisture, due to rainfall, the resulting dry air moves across the mountains and travels downhill on the leeward side. As the air blows down it becomes more arid and gathers some sand and small stones from the mountain along with it. This dry air reaches the inland at the bottom, retaining negligible moisture, deposits all the sand and pebbles, creating a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response effectively summarizes the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly identified the key stages: the movement of moist air from the sea, the orographic lift causing precipitation on the windward side, and the subsequent descent of dry air on the leeward side. The overview provides a concise summary of the process, and the body paragraphs follow a logical sequence. To reach a higher band, ensure that you explicitly mention the 'mountain' as the central catalyst in the introduction, as it is the primary feature of the diagram. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The response is well-organized with a clear logical progression from the initial wind movement to the final formation of the desert. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'As the air rises', 'Once', and 'therefore' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the sequence. The referencing is clear, and the flow between sentences is smooth. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, which contributes to a coherent and easy-to-follow explanation of the diagram.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a process description, such as 'mechanism', 'leeward side', 'windward side', 'orographic', and 'negligible'. The use of terminology is generally accurate and fits the context well. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or precise scientific descriptors, such as 'precipitate' instead of 'pour down' or 'arid conditions' to describe the resulting environment. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey the information with precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. You have successfully employed subordinate clauses, such as 'As the air rises, it retains moisture' and 'Once the air has lost most of its moisture... the resulting dry air moves'. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is controlled throughout. There are no major punctuation errors. While the grammatical range is solid, incorporating a wider variety of passive voice constructions (e.g., 'moisture is extracted from the air') could further enhance the academic tone and demonstrate greater flexibility in sentence structure.

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

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