Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-17

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 shows how a rain-shadow desert is formed through a process involving about seven steps.

Overall, the process seems to be quite long, starting with sea winds approaching the coast and eventually forming clouds that lead to rainfall. Finally, the dry winds reach the inland areas, resulting in the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

To begin with, the process of formation begins on the sea side, where winds approach the coast. The winds are pushed upwards as they reach the mountain, and as the moist air rises, it cools, leading to cloud formation. As the clouds become heavy, rainfall occurs over the mountains, mainly on the windward side. After this, the air loses most of its moisture and becomes dry. It then continues over the mountain before moving down the leeward side. As the dry air travels downwards, it becomes warmer and continues towards the inland areas. Finally, the dry winds reach the inland region, where very little rainfall occurs and the rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all main steps of the rain-shadow desert formation diagram, from sea winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. An overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the general trajectory of moist air turning into rain and eventually dry winds. Key features such as the windward side, mountains, and leeward side are accurately described without misinterpreting the visual data. The response meets the task requirements well, though a slightly more detailed comparison between the wet windward side and the dry leeward/inland side would elevate the response further. Overall, the content is accurate and well-grounded in the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and a detailed body paragraph. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'After this', 'It then continues', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the sequential process. Paragraphing is appropriate, and referencing is clear throughout the text. Progression is logical and easy to follow, making this a strong performance in terms of structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary relevant to the diagram, including terms like 'moist air', 'cloud formation', 'rainfall', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. There are some repetitive word choices (e.g., 'process', 'winds', 'continues'), but the vocabulary is precise enough to convey the scientific sequence clearly. Spelling and word choice are accurate, demonstrating adequate flexibility for this task type.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'The winds are pushed upwards as they reach the mountain, and as the moist air rises, it cools...' Grammatical control is strong, with frequent error-free sentences and correct use of subordinate clauses. Punctuation is also well handled. While the range of structures could be slightly more ambitious to reach higher bands, the current control is solid and reliable.

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

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