Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 formation of one type of desert described as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process begins with the movement of winds towards the coast and ends at the arrival of dry winds in inland areas. The whole process consists of seven stages.

In the initial stage, the hot winds move from the sea towards the coast and push in an upward direction in order to reach the windward side. As the winds encounter the mountain, they are forced to ascend. At the windward side, the moist air rises and cools the hot coastal winds. Through the cooling of the air, the process creates the formation of clouds.

After cloud formation, rain falls on the mountain, and dry air continues to move on the other side of the mountain to reach the leeward side, which is located on the opposite side of the windward side. The dry winds then reach the inland areas to create the rain-shadow desert. The distance between the coast and the desert is around thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have provided a clear overview and followed the sequence of events from the sea to the inland desert. The description of the windward and leeward sides is accurate. However, to reach a higher band, you could improve the level of detail by incorporating specific terminology from the diagram (such as 'moist air' vs 'dry air' more explicitly) and perhaps noting the elevation changes or the specific nature of the precipitation. The summary is accurate and covers all key stages of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'After cloud formation', and 'The dry winds then' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is appropriate, separating the introduction/overview from the detailed process. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'ascend', 'encounter', and 'windward/leeward'. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it is somewhat repetitive (e.g., using 'winds' and 'air' frequently). To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to meteorological processes, such as 'prevailing winds', 'condensation', or 'arid conditions'. The current range is adequate for the task but lacks the sophistication required for the highest bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly. There are occasional minor awkward phrasings, such as 'the process creates the formation of clouds', which could be more concisely expressed as 'the process leads to cloud formation'. Overall, the grammatical control is strong, and the errors present do not impede communication or cause any confusion for the reader.

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

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