Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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 figure illustrates the formation of a specific type of desert, namely a rain-shadow desert. As the name depicts, rain-shadow is a dry area of land that mostly forms due to lack of moisture, mostly due to the fact that moist air and rain usually gets blocked by a mountain range usually spread over thousands of kilometers. The process begins by heavy winds approaching the coast at the base of the mountain from the sea, which then get pushed upwards due to the upload slope of the mountain. The moist air rises and gradually cools down, forming clouds.

These clouds may then cause heavy rain mostly above the windward side of the mountain, while the dry air continues over it to the other side, namely the leeward side. Finally, the dry wind travels further down towards the inland areas, it causing the area to to dry up. Since the inland area may get very little rain and extreme dry winds, it may form a desert, as compared to the windward side, which due to the occasional rain and moist air, may appear lust and green.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student successfully covers all the key stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process shown in the diagram, beginning with winds approaching the coast and ending with the creation of a desert inland. The main features are accurately reported and compared, noting the contrast between the wet windward side and the dry inland region. The overview is integrated well into the introduction and body paragraphs. However, there is some minor repetition in phrasing (such as 'mostly due to' used twice in quick succession), but overall the response fully addresses the prompt with clear, well-supported information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a clear logical progression from the initial stage at the sea and coast, up and over the mountain range, and finally down to the inland areas. Cohesive devices such as 'The process begins by', 'which then', 'while the dry air continues', and 'Finally' are used effectively to guide the reader through the sequence of steps. Paragraphing is appropriate, dividing the introductory overview from the detailed cyclical steps of the process. Reference words are handled well, ensuring that the relationships between the moist air, clouds, rain, and dry winds remain clear throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient and generally appropriate range of vocabulary relevant to geographical processes, such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'moisture', and 'precipitation-related terms'. Less common items like 'upload slope' (though slightly inaccurate for 'upward slope') and 'lust and green' (which contains a spelling/word choice error for 'lush') show an attempt to use varied lexis. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, but these do not impede overall communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms effectively, using relative clauses ('which then get pushed upwards') and participial phrases ('forming clouds') to convey information efficiently. There are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'upload slope' instead of upward slope, and a slight awkwardness in 'it causing the area to to dry up', which features a duplicated word. Nevertheless, the majority of sentences are grammatically sound, punctuation is well managed, and the errors do not hinder comprehension.

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