Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02

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 seven main steps in formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the developmental process of this specific type of desert, known as the rain-shadow desert, follows a linear seven step procedure starting with the heavy cold winds from sea that reaches the coast. The coast are actually huge mountainous range, peaked at the top with thousands of kilometers width at the bottom. Heavy ocean winds are then pushes upward the mountains where humid air in wind rises and cools down forming clouds. Next from the clouds, heavy rainfalls starts, specifically at the peak of mountain. This entire process of five steps occurs on the windward side of mountain facing the sea winds.

Contrastly. the last two step of rain-shadow desert formation takes place on the opposite side, the leeward side of the mountains. Dry and rough windy air moves downward from the peak to the other side of mountain. These dry winds finally reaches the inland areas forming the well-known rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages in the formation of a rain-shadow desert, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 6.5. The overview clearly identifies the linear seven-step procedure, and the student highlights key geographic features such as the windward and leeward sides of the mountains. However, some aspects are slightly under-developed or contain minor inaccuracies in interpreting the visual data, such as describing the winds as 'heavy cold winds from sea' and stating that the coast is a 'huge mountainous range' rather than the mountains being adjacent to the coast. To reach a higher band, the response would need to present a more precise and fully elaborated summary of the visual data without minor descriptive discrepancies.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the sea to the inland areas, earning a solid Band 6.5. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the windward process, and the leeward process. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Next', and 'Contrastly' (an error in form) are employed, but referencing and cohesion are occasionally mechanical or slightly faulty. For example, 'Contrastly' is an awkward transition, and 'the last two step' lacks plural agreement. To achieve a higher band, the student should employ a wider range of cohesive devices more flexibly and ensure that referencing between sentences is entirely seamless and error-free.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'developmental process', 'linear', and 'rain-shadow desert', which aligns with Band 6.5. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, form, and collocation, such as 'Contrastly' instead of 'In contrast' or 'Conversely', 'two step' instead of 'two steps', and 'windy air'. These errors do not impede communication, but they prevent the score from moving higher. To achieve a higher band, the student needs to demonstrate greater precision in word formation and collocation, using less common lexical items with more consistent accuracy and natural style.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a decent attempt at complex structures such as relative clauses and participial phrases, fitting the Band 5.5 profile while partially showing elements of the band above. However, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The coast are actually huge mountainous range'), missing articles ('in formation of rain-shadow desert'), and preposition errors ('pushes upward the mountains'). While these errors rarely completely obscure the meaning, they are persistent enough to cause some difficulty for the reader. To improve, the student must exercise better control over basic grammatical structures, articles, and plurals.

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

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