Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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 diagram illustrates the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consists of 7 stages, in which wind goes through different states until it reaches the inland, creating a rain-shadow desert. Additionally, a distance of thousands of kilometers is measured between the sea and a rain-shadow desert.

First of all, the cool breeze above the sea approaches the coast, surfacing at sea level, before it is pushed upward towards the mountain between the sea and inland. After that, the moist air rises and eventually cools down while climbing through the cliff. Following that, clouds start to form from the moist air.

Therefore, the clouds on the windward side rise to almost the peak of the mountain before rain starts falling. Subsequently, the dry air continues to flow over the mountain, descending through the leeward side. Then dry winds come down from the leeward side to the inland areas, and thus a Rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the process from winds approaching the coast through rainfall on the windward side to dry winds reaching inland, and it gives a clear overall summary of the seven stages. The sequence is generally faithful to the diagram, including the mountain’s role and the location of the rain-shadow desert. Some details, however, are added or imprecise: the diagram does not describe the breeze as “cool,” say that it “surfac[es] at sea level,” or call the mountain a “cliff.” The overview’s reference to the distance of thousands of kilometres is also less central than explaining how moisture is lost on the windward side and dry air produces the desert beyond the leeward side. A more precise overview and closer adherence to the labels would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The information is organised into a brief introduction, an overview and two chronological paragraphs, so the reader can follow the process from the sea to the inland desert. Sequencing expressions such as “First of all,” “After that,” “Following that” and “Subsequently” make the stages explicit, and the final sentence completes the sequence. The progression is clear, though the repeated step markers make some transitions feel formulaic. “Therefore” is not the most natural link between cloud formation and rainfall, since it suggests a conclusion rather than the next stage in a process. The overview also gives the distance its own emphasis without connecting it closely to the process. More varied, precise linking and tighter connections between overview and details would improve cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The response uses a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “descending” and “rain-shadow desert.” These terms help describe the stages and show some flexibility beyond basic vocabulary. A few choices are not precise for this diagram: “cool breeze” adds a quality not shown, “surfacing at sea level” is an awkward description of winds approaching the coast, and “cliff” is less accurate than “mountain.” “Come down” is also less formal and exact than “reach” or “move inland.” Aim to select terms that match the diagram’s labels and use natural collocations; this would make the description more precise while retaining its clear meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

There is a useful mix of sentence forms, including complex clauses with “before,” “while” and “until,” as well as passive constructions such as “it is pushed upward” and “a Rain-shadow desert is formed.” Most sentences are grammatically clear, and the sequence of events is easy to understand. Some phrasing is less well controlled: “the moist air rises and eventually cools down while climbing through the cliff” leaves the subject of “climbing” somewhat awkwardly expressed, and “the clouds on the windward side rise to almost the peak” gives the clouds an unclear action. The capitalisation of “Rain-shadow” in the final sentence is also inconsistent with its earlier use. More precise clause construction and consistent punctuation and capitalisation would improve accuracy.

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