Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15

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 by which a rain-shadow desert is formed on the leeward side of a mountain range.

Overall, the process consists of seven mnain stages, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inlands areas. The key feature is that moist air rises and produces rainfall on the windwards side, while the air becomes dry as it desecends on the ooposite side, creating a rain shadow desert.

Initially, winds from the sea approach the coast and are pushed upwards as they encounter the mountains. As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools. At a higher altitude, clouds form as a result of this cooling process, and rainfall occurs over the mountain slopes.

After mosing much of its moisture, the air passes over the moustain peak and moves becomes increasingly dry. The dry air continuees to move down the mountain sloper before reaching the inlands areas.

Finally, these dry winds travel far inland, where very little rainfall occurs. As a result, a large rain-shadowo desetr develops on the leeward side of the mountains.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview of the process and detailing the seven main stages of rain-shadow desert formation. The response accurately identifies key features such as moist air rising on the windward side to produce rainfall and descending dry air on the leeward side creating the desert. The information is fully grounded in the visual data. Minor typos do not detract from the clear reporting of main features, satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response exhibits clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is arranged sequentially from the sea across the mountains to the inland area. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, overview, and individual stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'After', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the stages, although some minor spelling errors in linking words occur. Overall cohesion is clear and logical, warranting a Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic process description, using terms like 'leeward side', 'altitude', 'precipitation' (implicitly), and 'desecends'. However, there are several noticeable spelling errors and typos throughout the text, such as 'mnain', 'inlands', 'windwards', 'desecends', 'ooposite', 'mosing', 'moustain', 'continuees', 'sloper', 'rain-shadowo', and 'desetr'. These minor slips prevent the score from reaching higher bands, though the vocabulary remains adequate to convey meaning clearly, supporting a Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The student attempts a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as 'The diagram illustrates the process by which a rain-shadow desert is formed...' and 'As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools.' There are frequent error-free sentences demonstrating solid grammatical control. However, occasional mechanical and spelling errors persist, alongside a couple of minor phrasing slips like 'moves becomes increasingly dry'. Control over complex structures is generally good, justifying a Band 7.0.

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

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