Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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 one specific form of desert, a process of rain-shadow desert being formed. Showing how most air from sea passes over a mountain range before reaching inland areas.

Overall, the process involves seven main stages, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching the inland region. Rainfall occurs mainly on the windward side of the mountains, whereas the leeward side receives little or no precipitation, resulting in the formation of a desert.

Initially, winds travel from the sea towards the coast and are forced upwards as they encounter the mountains. As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools, causing clouds to form. Further upward movement leads to precipitation, with rain falling on the upper part of the windward side. Consequently, much of the moisture in the air is lost before it crosses the mountain range.

After passing over the peak of the mountain, the now-dry air descends along the leeward side of the mountains. As it continues across the mountain range, it reamins dry and eventually reaches the inlad ares. Since these regions receive very little rainfall, a rain-shadow desert developes on the leeward side of the mountains, thousands of kilometres from the coast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response effectively covers the key stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the movement of moist air from the sea, the cooling effect as it rises over the mountain, the resulting precipitation on the windward side, and the subsequent dry conditions on the leeward side. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the entire process. The information is well-selected and logically presented, meeting all the requirements of the task. No significant information was omitted, and the comparison between the windward and leeward sides is handled well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression from the initial stage to the final outcome. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, the overview, and the detailed stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'As', 'Further', 'Consequently', and 'After passing over' are used appropriately to guide the reader through the sequence of events. The flow of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the different parts of the process is clearly established throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process accurately, including terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'precipitation', and 'moisture'. While the vocabulary is generally precise and appropriate for the task, there are a few minor spelling errors, such as 'reamins' instead of 'remains', 'inlad ares' instead of 'inland areas', and 'developes' instead of 'develops'. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the response from reaching the highest band for lexical resource. Using a slightly wider variety of descriptive verbs could further enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures, including a mix of simple and complex sentences. You have used subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools'. While there are a few minor slips, such as the sentence fragment in the first paragraph ('Showing how most air...') and the aforementioned spelling errors, the majority of your sentences are error-free. The punctuation is generally accurate, and the grammatical errors present do not cause any difficulty for the reader or impede the clarity of your explanation.

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