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 given diagram illustrates all the steps involved in the forming of rain-shadow deserts. There are seven main steps involved in this procedure.

Overall, it's all about the wind that travels to the top of the mountain, where moist air converts into clouds and the remaining dry air travels downwards from the mountain towards inland areas, forming a desert.

Initially, the wind approaches the coast from where it is pushed upwards due to the slope of the mountain. Afterwards, the wind travels in an upward direction of the mountain and after covering some distance the moist air rises higher and cools down. On the other hand, the dry air remains relatively lower. In the next step, the cool moist air converts to clouds at an area known as the windward side. Next, these clouds are pushed further up towards the peak where they become heavier and rain falls.

At the peak, when rain falls the dry air is pushed down from the mountain. This air passes through the leeward side and moves further down. Finally, it reaches the inland areas which causes the formation of deserts known as rain-shadow deserts in these areas. This whole process takes place in an area covering thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully covers all stages of the process shown in the diagram. You have identified the main features, such as the windward and leeward sides, and the progression from moisture-laden air to the formation of a desert. The overview is clear and provides a good summary of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure that you avoid minor inaccuracies in the description of the process; for instance, stating that 'dry air remains relatively lower' while moist air rises is slightly confusing in the context of the diagram. Overall, the response is well-structured and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response is logically organized with a clear progression from the initial wind approach to the final desert formation. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the introduction, overview, and the detailed steps of the process. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterwards', 'In the next step', and 'Finally' to guide the reader. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. However, the information is presented in a coherent manner throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, using terms like 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland areas'. The language is generally precise and appropriate for an academic report. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To improve, try to incorporate more varied and precise scientific terminology related to meteorological processes, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions', to elevate the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control of grammar is generally strong. There are occasional minor slips, such as 'the forming of' instead of 'the formation of' and 'upward direction of the mountain' which is slightly awkward phrasing. However, these errors do not interfere with the clarity of the message. You have used a variety of structures effectively to explain the causal relationships in the diagram.

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