Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-09

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 illustration describes the manufacturing process of a type of desert which is known as rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is a 7 stage, linear, and natural process. Starting from the winds approaching coastal areas to form clouds and rain, ending with dry winds which reach inland areas to form Rain-shadow desert.

The process commences with the winds which flow over the sea to approach coastal areas near the mountains. These winds are later pushed towards upward direction in order to become moist and cool. After that, this moist air rises to the top of the mountain in order to form clouds. These clouds later start raining at the top of the mountain. While this is happening, winds take a turn from the top of the mountain so that they can flow in Leeward side.

Following this, dry air continues to move downside of the mountains, which in turn reaches inland areas. Finally, this dry air in inland areas form a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the diagram as a natural, seven-stage process and give a relevant overview from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas. The main sequence is mostly covered, including cloud formation, rainfall, and the movement of dry air beyond the mountains. However, some stages are blurred or inaccurately described: the air rises and cools before clouds form, rather than being pushed upward “in order to become moist and cool,” and the diagram does not show the desert being formed directly by the air. The windward/leeward contrast and the role of the mountains could also be explained more clearly. This covers the task, but some features are less fully and precisely reported than others.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression, with an overview followed by a chronological account of the stages. Paragraphing helps distinguish the summary from the details, and markers such as “After that,” “Following this,” and “Finally” make the sequence easy to follow. The organisation is therefore effective, though the linking is sometimes formulaic and the relationship between events could be clearer. For example, “While this is happening” does not precisely connect rainfall with the winds turning over the mountain. The account also repeats the idea of dry air reaching inland areas in consecutive sentences. More varied, precise links and tighter sequencing would make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “approach,” “moist,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” so the stages are generally understandable. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “linear” and “rain-shadow desert.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural for this diagram: “manufacturing process” suggests human production, “pushed towards upward direction” is awkward, and “start raining” is less suitable than a precise term for precipitation. Capitalisation of “Rain-shadow” and “Leeward” is also inconsistent. These issues do not prevent understanding, but more accurate collocations and consistent terminology would improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“which is known as…”) and time or result clauses (“While this is happening,” “which in turn reaches…”). Most sentences communicate the intended sequence, and the errors rarely obstruct meaning. Some grammatical problems remain: “winds…become moist and cool” does not clearly express the intended process, “this dry air…form” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “flow in Leeward side” has an incorrect article/preposition pattern. The opening overview also uses a sentence fragment beginning “Starting from…”. Greater control of agreement, articles, and complete sentence construction would strengthen accuracy.

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