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 figure illustrates the process in the formation of a particular type of desert, namely the rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is a 7-staged linear process which involves sea winds flowing towards the mountain, rising into the air where moist air cools and condenses to form clouds. As these clouds become heavy, they precipitate into rain-drops, and finally, dry air continue over mountains towards the leeward side to reach the mainland and thus form rain-show deserts.

Firstly, sea wind approach the coast until it is pushed higher into the sky, where the moist air cools. Following this step, the moist air condenses to form clouds in the winward-side of the mountain. As the coulds become heavy with water droplets, it rains.

The next step in the process involves the dry air to continue traveling for thousands of kilometers in the leeward side towards the mainland. In the final step, as these winds reach the inland areas, they form rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main stages and provide a clear overview of the movement from moist coastal air to dry inland conditions. The sequence of uplift, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air crossing the mountains is accurately represented, and you identify the windward and leeward sides. This gives the account a clear focus and addresses the task well. Some details are less precise: “as these clouds become heavy” suggests cloud weight causes the rain, whereas the diagram simply shows rain falling after clouds form. Also, “form rain-shadow deserts” implies the winds themselves create the desert, rather than explaining that dry conditions on the inland side produce a rain-shadow area. A more exact description of this relationship would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs that follow the process in order. Sequencing expressions such as “Firstly,” “Following this step,” and “The next step” help the reader track the stages, and the progression from coast to inland is easy to follow. However, the overview repeats much of the sequence later described in the body, and some links feel mechanical. The phrase “Following this step” is followed by a further description of cooling and cloud formation, which could be connected more smoothly to the preceding sentence. There is also a slightly unclear reference in “As these clouds become heavy,” since the diagram does not specify this cause. Reduce repetition and use more precise links between stages to make cohesion more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “condenses,” “precipitate,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas.” These terms help communicate the stages and show some awareness of the topic’s more specific language. There are, however, several spelling and word-choice slips: “rain-show deserts,” “winward-side,” and “coulds” should be corrected, while “sea wind” and “rain-drops” are less natural choices in this context. “Mainland” is also less precise than “inland areas.” These errors do not prevent understanding, but they reduce accuracy and polish. Aim for consistent use of the diagram’s terminology and check spelling carefully, especially for repeated key terms such as “rain-shadow” and “windward.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses beginning “where,” “as,” and “until,” and the overall meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly with agreement and verb forms. For example, “dry air continue” should be “dry air continues,” and “sea wind approach” should be “sea winds approach” or “the sea wind approaches.” The construction “involves the dry air to continue traveling” is not grammatical; use “involves dry air continuing” or “the next step is for dry air to continue.” There are also article and preposition issues in phrases such as “in the winward-side” and “in the leeward side.” More consistent control of agreement and sentence patterns would improve accuracy while retaining your range of structures.

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

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