Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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 various stages involved in the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

There are seven stages involved in this process. In the first stage, winds approach sea coast, where mountains are located. Subsequently, these winds are pushed upwards of mountains in the second stage. As these winds go upwards, moist air gets formed and rises on the windward side of the mountains. After the formation and cooling of moist air, clouds get formed in the fourth stage.

Rain falls once these clouds get formed via cooling of moist air in the fifth stage. After the rainfall, dry air countinues over these mountains in the penultimate stage. This dry air goes downwards of the leeward side of the mountains, which is opposite of windward side and reach inland areas in the last stage of the process. This process ends once dry winds reach these inland areas, which are thousand kilometers away from the sea coast and rain-shadow desert gets formed.

This is how rain-shadow desert gets formed starting from the sea coast to reaching inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by outlining the seven main stages of rain-shadow desert formation, satisfying the requirements of the task. However, some aspects of the process are somewhat repetitive or under-developed. For instance, the final sentences reiterate the overall formation process without adding significant new detail. The overview captures the main purpose of the diagram adequately, but a more integrated summary of the transformation from moist coastal winds to dry inland conditions would elevate the response. The inclusion of specific visual features like the windward and leeward sides demonstrates a relevant understanding of the data.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a clear progression from the first stage to the final stage of the process. Logical connectors such as 'In the first stage', 'Subsequently', and 'After the rainfall' are employed to guide the reader through the sequence. However, some cohesive devices feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing is occasionally clumsy, such as 'which is opposite of windward side and reach inland areas'. Paragraphing is utilized, though the introduction and conclusion are quite brief. To reach the next band, the flow between sentences could be made more seamless and sophisticated without relying heavily on chronological list-like markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common items related to geographical processes such as 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'inland areas'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and spelling, such as 'countinues' instead of continues, and awkward phrasing like 'winds pushed upwards of mountains' instead of up the mountains. While these lexical slips do not impede communication, they reflect a lack of precise control over less common vocabulary. Incorporating more precise academic verbs and collocations would help bridge the gap to a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writing displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of sentence structure. There are several instances of correct complex structures, such as 'Rain falls once these clouds get formed via cooling of moist air in the fifth stage.' However, a number of grammatical errors persist, particularly with prepositions and articles, such as 'winds approach sea coast' missing the article, and 'pushed upwards of mountains'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and errors rarely impede overall communication. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to produce a greater frequency of error-free complex sentences and exercise tighter control over prepositions.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.