Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 process chart depicts the formation of a desert, called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it can be seen that the formation of rain-shadow desert involves seven main stages, beginning with winds from sea approaching the coast and ending with dry winds reaching the inland areas. The sea helps the mountain peak to receive rainfalls, which further send dry air towards the inland.

Initially, winds from the sea approach the coast and are pushed upwards towards mountains. As the air rises along the windward side, moist air is cooled, resulting in the formation of clouds. Subsequently, rainfall occurs on the windward side and air becomes dry.

After passing over the mountain peak, the dry air reaches leeward side of the mountain. As the air continues to move downward towards the inland, it converts to dry winds. Finally, dry winds reaches to inland where they form a rain-shadow desert by hitting the inland.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response identifies the process as a sequence and gives a clear overall account, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. It also reports the key stages of uplift, cooling, cloud formation and rainfall, so the main mechanism is recognisable. Some details, however, are less precise or developed: “the sea helps the mountain peak to receive rainfalls” is an unclear description of moist air rising and producing rain on the windward side, and the final claim that the winds form the desert “by hitting the inland” is not supported by the diagram. To strengthen the overview, explain that rain falls on the windward side while dry air crosses the mountains and creates arid conditions on the leeward side inland.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a sensible sequence, with an introduction and overview followed by the stages before and after the mountain crossing. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Subsequently,” “After passing over” and “Finally” help the reader follow the process. This gives the account a coherent overall progression. Some links are less effective, however: “which further send dry air” has an unclear reference, and the transition from rainfall to dry air could explain the cause-and-effect relationship more directly. The final sentence also repeats the idea of dry winds reaching inland without clearly distinguishing this from the formation of the desert. More precise referencing and less repetition would make cohesion smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the process, and terms such as “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “rainfall” and “inland areas” show relevant topic awareness. There is also some variety in process language, including “approach,” “pushed upwards,” “resulting in” and “continues to move.” However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “rainfalls” is not the natural noun here, “hitting the inland” does not describe the process, and “the sea helps the mountain peak to receive” is imprecise. Repeated use of “dry air” and “dry winds” also limits flexibility. Aim for more exact collocations such as “precipitation falls,” “air descends” and “conditions become increasingly arid.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including the overview clause “beginning with … and ending with …” and the result structure “As the air rises …, moist air is cooled.” Most stages remain understandable, and the sequence is generally expressed clearly. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly with agreement and sentence construction: “dry winds reaches” should be “dry winds reach,” while “which further send dry air” has an unclear antecedent and agreement. The phrase “reaches to inland” also uses an unnecessary preposition, and “the leeward side” needs an article in “reaches leeward side.” Greater control of agreement, articles and prepositions, alongside varied but accurate sentence patterns, would improve accuracy.

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.