Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-20

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 presents a visualization of the different steps that lead to the creation of a specific type of desert that is known as rain-shadow desert. The whole process can be summarized in 7 steps. Before delving into the steps, the diagram shows that a rain-shadow desert appear next to a mountain that span thousands of kilometres that is neighbouring the sea. Initially, the process starts when sea winds approach the coast. Secondly, following the mountain's direction on the windward side, winds get pushed upwards. And because of the mountain's high elevation and therefore cold temperature, the process reaches its third step where moist air rises and cools until clouds are formed which corresponds to the fourth step. Furthermore, clouds become rainy. On the other hand, reaching the sixth step, dry air continues its track over the mountain and then it starts to fall down along the leeward side until dry wind reaches inland areas which constitutes the final step of the creation of rain shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the diagram as a seven-stage process and describe the main movement from sea winds, over the mountains, to the inland desert. The account correctly includes upward movement, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry air crossing the mountain. However, some important features are not fully or clearly reported: the overview says the desert is “next to a mountain” rather than explaining that it forms inland on the leeward side, and the rainfall stage is only described as “clouds become rainy.” The claim that the mountain spans thousands of kilometres also misreads the scale marker, which indicates the horizontal distance shown. Clarify the windward-to-leeward contrast and explain how rain leaves the air dry before it reaches inland areas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, and sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Secondly,” and “reaching the sixth step” help the reader track the stages. The opening also gives a useful overview of the seven-step structure. However, the account is presented as one long paragraph, and several transitions feel mechanical or unclear. For example, “And because of the mountain’s high elevation…” joins the second and third stages in a way that makes their relationship difficult to follow, while “Furthermore” does not clearly signal the move from cloud formation to rainfall. Use paragraphing to separate the overview from the detailed sequence, and connect each stage with more precise cause-and-effect links.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

You show a good range of process vocabulary, including “approach,” “pushed upwards,” “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas.” These terms are relevant and help describe the diagram with some precision. There are occasional awkward choices or collocations, such as “visualization of the different steps,” “following the mountain’s direction,” and “clouds become rainy”; these are understandable but not fully natural or exact. “Creation” is also repeated where “formation” would be more appropriate for this process. Aim for concise, conventional process language—for example, say that air is forced up the windward slope, cools and condenses, and then descends as dry air on the leeward side.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including clauses of time and cause, as in “when sea winds approach the coast” and “because of the mountain’s high elevation.” Most of the sequence remains understandable, and the final clause successfully links the dry winds to the inland areas. Some grammatical errors remain: “a rain-shadow desert appear” has subject–verb disagreement, “a mountain that span” also needs agreement, and “until clouds are formed which corresponds” has an unclear grammatical connection and agreement. The long sentence beginning “And because…” is also difficult to control. Check singular/plural agreement and divide the process into shorter sentences; this would preserve your range while making the relationships between stages clearer.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.