Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-12

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 shows how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

The diagram also shows 7 steps which lead to the creaton of a rain-shadow desert. The main frature of the diagram is the steap mountain in the middle, which separates the sea and the desert. Existance of this type of a mountain, in such position, is essential for creation of a rain-shadow desert in general.

In the first step the diagram shows, winds from the outer sea approach the coast. Steps 2-4 show that winds are being pushed upwards, where moist air rises and cools and where clouds form. Then, in step 5, rain falls before the mountain top, leaving all the moisture on the mountain sea-side. From there, dry air and emty clouds continue over the mountain top, descend into leeward side and enter inland area, where they fransform into winds and make the surface dry.

Thus, the position of a mountain and wind path keeps the land dry, which makes it more arid and prone to become a desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the full sequence and identify the key relationship: mountains force moist air upward, rain falls on the sea-facing side, and drier air reaches inland. The overview that the mountain separates sea and desert is relevant, and the final sentence explains the resulting aridity. This meets the task well, with some features already clearly selected and reported. However, a few details are unclear or not supported by the diagram: “empty clouds” are not shown continuing over the mountain, and the diagram does not say that the air “transform[s] into winds.” The description of the dry air descending could also be more precise. To strengthen the response further, report only the illustrated stages and explain the windward-to-leeward contrast more explicitly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction, a general description of the mountain’s role, a chronological account of the stages, and a concluding summary. Sequencing phrases such as “In the first step,” “Steps 2–4,” “Then,” and “From there” help the reader follow the process. Paragraphing is also appropriate. Some links are less precise, however: “From there” has an unclear reference, and the long sentence beginning “From there, dry air…” combines several stages and outcomes, making the sequence harder to track. The final “Thus” conclusion repeats the central idea rather than adding a distinct process detail. More precise referencing and clearer separation of the later stages would make the progression even smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “approach,” “pushed upwards,” “moist air,” “leeward side,” and “arid.” These choices communicate the main stages and show some ability to use topic-specific language. However, several spelling errors—“creaton,” “frature,” “Existance,” “emty,” and “fransform”—reduce accuracy. Some expressions are also imprecise or unnatural: “outer sea,” “mountain sea-side,” and “empty clouds” do not describe the diagram clearly, while “make the surface dry” is less exact than language describing reduced rainfall or dry conditions. Aim for accurate spelling and conventional geographical collocations, and avoid adding terms that are not represented in the visual.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including the relative clause in “which separates the sea and the desert” and the time clause “before the mountain top.” Most sentences remain understandable, and the sequence is generally expressed clearly. Some grammatical inaccuracies persist, particularly in articles and prepositions: “in such position” would be more naturally formed as “in such a position,” and “descend into leeward side” needs an article or a different construction. The phrase “winds from the outer sea approach the coast” is also awkwardly structured. The long sentence describing the air’s movement contains several linked actions, so its grammatical relationships are not always easy to follow. Use shorter clauses for the later stages and check article use and preposition patterns.

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