Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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 how a rain-shadow desert is formed as moist air moves from the coast across a mountain range.

Overall, the process contains seven sequential stages. The process commences with winds approaches the coast and cluminates in the formation of a rain-shadow desert inland, with moist air rising, cooling, and producing rainfall on the windward side of the mountain along the way.

Initially, winds approach the coast from the sea before being forced upwards by the mountains. As a moist air rises, it gradually cools, leading to formation of clouds on the windward side. Subsequently, rainfall occurs as the clouds become saturated, causing rain to fall on this side of the mountain.

After the rain falls, now-dry air continues over the mountain and moves down the leeward side. As it descends, the air remainds dry, and dry eventually reach the inland area. As a result, the lack of rainfall in these regions leads to the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by summarising the seven stages of rain-shadow desert formation shown in the diagram. An overview is successfully presented in the second paragraph, outlining the sequential nature of the process from the winds approaching the coast to the final desert formation. However, certain parts of the response are slightly under-developed; for instance, the explanation of how the dry air affects the inland area is brief and could have expanded more on the specific climatic consequences. Overall, the content is accurate and relevant to the visual data, sitting comfortably within the expectations for this band level, showing some elements of higher task fulfillment.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information is grouped logically into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that detail the stages chronologically. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Subsequently', and 'After the rain falls' are used effectively to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is managed appropriately, with each section serving a distinct purpose. While referencing and substitution are clear, minor mechanical flaws in cohesion prevent it from reaching the highest bands, yet it fully satisfies the criteria for a solid performance at this level.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully conveying the technical steps of the process with terms like 'moist air', 'saturated', 'leeward side', and 'descends'. There are attempts to use less common items, but occasional lexical inaccuracies occur, such as 'cluminates' (culminates) and referencing 'dry eventually reach' where a noun is missing. Word choice and word formation errors, including 'remainds', do not impede communication, but they highlight the limitations in precision and spelling that keep the lexical score at this level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent attempt at structuring compound and complex sentences (e.g., 'As a moist air rises, it gradually cools...'). However, there are several grammatical errors present, such as article misuse ('a moist air'), subject-verb agreement issues ('winds approaches', 'air remainds'), and minor prepositional or phrasing slips. These errors are noticeable but rarely impede communication, reflecting a typical profile of mixed grammatical accuracy and control characteristic of this band.

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