Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 the process by which rain shadow deserts are formed as result of winds passing over a mountain range.

Overall, the formation of a rain shadow desert involves seven main stages , begining with moist winds approachung the coast and ending with dry air reaching inland areas.

Initially, winds carrying moisture from sea approac the coast and are forced upwards as they encounter the mountains. As the moist air rises, it cools, leading to the formation of clouds. Subsequently, precipitation occurs n the windward side, where rain falls from the clouds. As result, much of the moisture is removed from the air before it crosses the mountain range.

In the next stage, the dry desecends along the leeward side of mountains and continues towards the inland areas. It produces little or no rainfall. Consequently, the land of this side remains extremely dry, eventually resulting in formation of rain shadow desert

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response clearly summarises the process and gives a relevant overview: it identifies the sequence from moist winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas. The main stages are accurately reported, including uplift, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall on the windward side, and the movement of dry air beyond the mountains. The explanation that moisture is removed before the air crosses the range also helps connect the stages to the desert’s formation. To make the account more fully developed, describe the final location more precisely: the desert lies inland beyond the leeward side, and the dry winds reach this area after crossing the mountains. The statement that the land remains “extremely dry” is reasonable, but could be tied more explicitly to the diagram’s final outcome.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The information is arranged in a clear sequence, with an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs that follow the process from the coast to the inland desert. Linking expressions such as “Initially,” “Subsequently,” “As a result,” and “Consequently” help the reader follow the stages. The progression is logical and the relationship between rainfall and the later dry conditions is made clear. Some connections could be more precise: “In the next stage” introduces several later events rather than one distinct stage, and the final sentence would be clearer if it explicitly linked the dry winds reaching inland areas to the desert’s location. Check punctuation around the overview’s “stages” and add a full stop at the end.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “moisture,” “forced upwards,” “precipitation,” “windward side,” and “leeward side.” These terms suit the diagram and allow the stages to be described without excessive repetition. However, several spelling errors—“begining,” “approachung,” “approac,” and “desecends”—reduce accuracy, while “dry air” and “dry winds” could be used more consistently to describe the final movement. Some phrasing is also less natural, such as “from sea” and “the land of this side.” Proofread spelling carefully and choose more precise collocations, for example “moist air from the sea” and “the land on the leeward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

There is a useful mix of simple and complex structures, including the overview clause “beginning with … and ending with …” and the explanation “As the moist air rises, it cools, leading to the formation of clouds.” Most sentences communicate the process clearly, and the sequence is generally controlled. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly missing or incorrect articles and prepositions: “from sea” needs an article, “As result” should be “As a result,” and “in formation of” needs “the.” The phrase “the dry [air] descends along the leeward side of mountains” also needs clearer article use. Punctuation is occasionally incomplete, including the missing final full stop. More consistent control of these details, alongside the existing complex sentences, would strengthen accuracy.

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