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)

This diagrame illustrates the process by which a rain-shadow desert is formed through a seven-stage geographical process.

Overall, the process bedins over the sea, where moisture is collected and progress past coastal mountain ranges, resulting in dry inland conditions on the leeward side of mountains.

Initally, the moist air approach the coast from over the sea and are pushed upward as they encounter the mountain range. As this air ascends the windward side of the mountains, it cools down, leading to the formation of clouds. Subsequently, rain fall on this widward slope, relweasing most of the moisture carried by the air.

Once the air passes over the mountain peak, the emaining dry air continuous over the leeward side. As these dry winds descend towards the inland areas, they lack moisture, preventing precipitation. Over a scale covering a thousands of kilometres, this continuous movement of dry air ultimately results in the cration of a rain-shadow desert in the inland region.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response successfully covers all parts of the visual prompt by outlining the seven key stages of rain-shadow desert formation, from moist winds approaching the coast to the creation of the desert inland. An appropriate overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the main geographical trend of moisture loss across the mountain range. The stages are clearly reported and logically sequenced, though some details, such as the scale of thousands of kilometres, could have been integrated slightly more smoothly. Overall, the information is accurately selected and presented to meet the requirements of an academic task.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the sea across the mountains to the inland desert. Information is divided into logical paragraphs, separating the introduction, overview, windward process, and leeward process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initally', 'Subsequently', and 'Once the air passes' are used to guide the reader through the stages, though referencing and transitions occasionally feel slightly mechanical, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band level. Paragraphing is handled well, ensuring each phase of the process has its own focus.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common geographical terms such as 'leeward side', 'windward slope', and 'precipitation'. However, there are several spelling errors ('diagrame', 'bedins', 'Initally', 'widward', 'relweasing', 'emaining', 'continuous', 'cration') and occasional lexical slips like 'progress past' instead of 'progressing past'. While these errors do not impede communication, their frequency prevents the lexical score from rising higher. The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main features of the process clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over descriptive structures such as 'As this air ascends the windward side...'. However, there are some noticeable grammatical and agreement errors throughout the text, such as 'the moist air approach... and are pushed' (subject-verb agreement), 'rain fall' (singular/plural noun form), and 'a thousands of kilometres' (incorrect article usage with plural measurements). Despite these errors in grammar and punctuation, the sentences remain largely understandable and rarely impede communication, aligning well with the characteristics of this band.

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

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