Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

The image illustrate all the steps involved in the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process is executed in seven consecutive steps which include approaching of the winds towards the coast from the windward side and their crossing over the mountain range that is extended to thousands of kilometres to the leeward side.

Firstly, the winds above the sea head towards the coast where they are pushed upwards to the windward side of the mounatins. The air becomes moist as it ascends and starts to cool down followed by the formation of clouds near the top of the peaks. Rain falls from these moisture rich clouds at the top of the mountain range.

Moreover, the leeward side gets only dry air which continues to make its path towards the bottom of the mountain range. Once the dry air reaches the surface, it continues to move towards plain areas forming a specific type of desert called rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear account of the main sequence, from winds approaching the coast to rain falling on the windward side and dry air moving inland to form the desert. The overview identifies the seven-step process and the mountain crossing, while the body explains the key stages in a relevant order. This covers the central features of the diagram and is supported with specific details such as cooling air, cloud formation and precipitation. Some descriptions are less precise than the visual: the winds are not said to approach “from the windward side,” and the diagram’s thousands-of-kilometres label indicates horizontal scale rather than the mountain range’s extent. Clarifying the windward-to-leeward movement and scale would make the account more exact.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is organised clearly, with an overview followed by a chronological explanation of the process. “Firstly” and “Moreover” help signal progression, and the sequence from rising moist air to rainfall and then dry inland winds is easy to follow. Paragraphing also separates the overview from the detailed stages. At times, however, the linking is a little mechanical, and “Moreover” suggests an additional point rather than the next stage in a process. The final sentence repeats the movement of dry air (“continues to make its path” and “continues to move”), which slightly weakens concision. Use more precise stage links, or connect the later steps directly, to make the progression smoother and less repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The response uses a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “ascends,” “moisture rich,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and the meaning remains clear throughout. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “formation” and “consecutive steps.” However, some choices are awkward or imprecise: “the process is executed” is unnatural for a natural phenomenon, “make its path” is not idiomatic, and “plain areas” is less accurate than the diagram’s inland areas. The spelling error “mounatins” and the spacing in “moisture rich clouds” also show that lexical control is not fully consistent. Prefer natural process collocations and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

There is a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including the relative clause in “a specific type of desert called rain-shadow desert” and the participle construction “followed by the formation of clouds.” Most sentences communicate the stages successfully. Some grammatical errors remain, however: “The image illustrate” has subject–verb disagreement, and “the formation of rain-shadow desert” needs an article before the singular count noun. The phrase “the winds above the sea head towards the coast where they are pushed upwards” also leaves the reference of “they” somewhat unclear. These issues do not prevent understanding, but they limit accuracy. Check agreement and articles, and make pronoun references explicit while retaining the range of sentence structures.

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