Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 7.0)

The diagram illustrates how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process begins when moist air from the sea moves towards a mountain and ends with the formation of a dry desert on the other side of the mountain. Rain falls only on the windward side, while the leeward side remains dry because the air has lost most of its moisture.

To commence with, winds carrying moist air approach the coast from the sea. As they reach the mountains, they are forced to rise up the windward side. While rising, the air cools, causing clouds to form. As the temperature continues to fall, the moisture in the clouds turns into rain, which falls on the windward slope.

Furthermore, the air crosses the top of the mountain and moves down the leeward side. Since most of its moisture has already fallen as rain, the air becomes dry. It continues travelling across inland areas without producing any further rainfall. As a result, the land receives very little precipitation over a long distance, eventually leading to the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student covers all parts of the task well, providing a clear overview and successfully describing the sequential stages of rain-shadow desert formation. The main features, such as moist air approaching from the sea, rising over the windward side of the mountain, producing precipitation, and leaving the leeward side and inland areas dry, are accurately reported and compared. The response is fully grounded in the provided diagram without omitting critical structural landmarks like the windward and leeward slopes. Overall, the response meets all the requirements for a Band 7.5 or 8.0 level of task achievement, presenting a well-developed account of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The text exhibits a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. The response is effectively divided into an introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the sequential steps of the process. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately to guide the reader through the stages, such as 'Overall', 'To commence with', 'Furthermore', and 'As a result'. Paragraphing is used logically to separate the general summary from the specific mechanisms of the process, ensuring smooth transitions from the windward side to the leeward side and inland desert.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for this academic task. Less common lexical items related to geographical processes are used accurately, including 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'precipitation', and 'rain-shadow desert'. Word choice and collocations are generally natural, such as 'forces to rise up' and 'loss of moisture'. While the vocabulary is not exceptionally wide or sophisticated, it is precise enough to convey the scientific process clearly without noticeable errors, fully supporting a solid Band 7 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writing displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as participial phrases ('As they reach the mountains, they are forced to rise...') and conditional or time clauses ('While rising, the air cools...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and the student maintains excellent control over punctuation and tense consistency (simple present tense is used appropriately for a scientific process). Grammatical control is strong, with only very occasional minor awkwardness that never impedes communication.

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