Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 for the formation of a special type of desert known as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the formation of a rain-shadow desert consists of seven stages. The process begins with the movement of winds from the sea towards the coast and ends with the formation of a desert.

In the initial stage, winds move from the sea to the coast. The warm winds encounter the mountains in front of them and are forced upwards. The moist air rises and cools down. Next, at the windward side, the wind condenses into clouds. Then, these clouds result in the rain falling on the slope of the mountains.

Furthermore, the dry air continues to move from the top of the mountain to the other side of the mountain. On the other side, dry wind reaches the leeward side, which is opposite to the windward side. From there, winds reach the inland areas, which are thousands of kilometers from the coast. Finally, on reaching the inland areas, this dry air eventually results in the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

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 clearly outlined the progression from the sea to the inland desert, covering all key stages shown in the diagram. The overview is concise and provides a good summary of the process. To reach a higher band, ensure you make more explicit comparisons between the windward and leeward sides, perhaps by contrasting the presence of moisture and precipitation on one side with the dryness on the other. Overall, the response is accurate and addresses the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, a summary paragraph, and two body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. You have used a range of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Next', 'Furthermore', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the steps. The progression of ideas is smooth and easy to follow. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the relationship between the windward and leeward sides is clearly established through the use of transition words. This demonstrates a good level of control over the structure of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'condenses', 'windward', 'leeward', and 'moist air'. The terminology is appropriate for a scientific description of a natural process. While the vocabulary is accurate, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or precise descriptive language, such as 'prevailing winds' or 'orographic lift'. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, and the language used is consistently relevant to the task.

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 the punctuation is used correctly to support the flow of information. You have successfully used passive voice constructions, such as 'are forced upwards', which is appropriate for describing a process. There are no major grammatical errors that cause confusion. To improve, you could experiment with more varied sentence beginnings or more complex subordinate clauses to demonstrate a wider range of grammatical flexibility.

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

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