Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-20

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 the process of formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, as the coastal winds are pushed upward in the windward side of the mountain, the moist air cools down and falls back as rain, while the dry air continues to travel toward the leeward side of the mountain, and this dry air reaches the land and forms the rain-shadow desert.

First, winds approaching the sea coast are pushed upward by the inclined shape of the mountain. After the wind reaches a certain hight, the moist air cools down and takes form of a cloud, which again falls back on the windward side of the mountain.

The dry air in the wind do not form a cloud and continues to travel over the mountain to the leeward side. From this point, the dry air continues to travel downward toward the inland areas. When the dry winds reaches the inland area, it forms a rain-shadow desert.

This happens in mountains that are spanned over thousands of kilometres, and has sea on one side and inland area on the other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly outlined the movement of air from the sea, the cooling process on the windward side, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you explicitly mention the key features shown in the diagram, such as the specific labels for the windward and leeward sides, and perhaps describe the elevation change more precisely to fully develop the explanation of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas follows the chronological stages of the process well. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First', 'After', and 'When', which help the reader follow the sequence. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'this dry air') is consistently clear throughout the text to avoid any potential ambiguity.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'coastal winds', 'windward', 'leeward', and 'inland areas'. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'takes form of a cloud' (should be 'takes the form of') and 'hight' (spelling error for 'height'). While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to meteorological processes would elevate the response to a higher band. The current range is functional but lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'process of formation of rain-shadow desert' (missing articles), 'winds... do not form' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'When the dry winds reaches' (subject-verb agreement error). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, especially when introducing technical concepts. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures would also be beneficial.

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

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