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 figure illustrastes formation of a rain-shadow desert which is one among different types of deserts.

Overall, the winds coming from the sea travel thousands of kilometres going through different natural processes step-by-step eventually reaching the inland in a form of dry winds that give rise to a rain-shadow desert.

Initially, the winds approach the coast coming all the way from sea which are then pushed upwards in form of a moist air and experience a drop in temperature. This gives rise to formation of the clouds at windward side that results in rain upon reaching the mountain peak.

Afterwards, dry air flow down the hill towards the leeward side. This area experiences dry environment as compared to the opposite side. These winds eventually reach the bottom and as a result rain-shadow desert is formed. This change is humidity and drop in temprature is the major contributing factor for rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the process, tracing winds from the sea to the inland desert and identifying the key contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side. It also reports the main stages: upward movement, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and the continuation of dry air inland. These details match the diagram and address the task. To make the account more fully developed, clarify the causal sequence: moist air rises and cools, producing clouds and rain on the windward side; the remaining dry air then crosses the mountain and descends toward the inland desert. The final claim that a “drop in temperature” contributes to desert formation is not clearly supported; the diagram emphasizes the loss of moisture through rainfall.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview, and two chronological paragraphs, so the reader can follow the process from coast to inland. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially” and “Afterwards,” together with “Overall,” help signal the stages and the main pattern. The progression is generally logical, although some links between cause and result are imprecise: for example, “This gives rise to formation of the clouds … that results in rain” compresses several stages, and “These winds eventually reach the bottom” is not fully clear about which side of the mountain is meant. Use explicit references to the windward and leeward sides and connect each stage directly to the next to make cohesion more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing the process, and terms such as “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert” show useful topic-specific range. The writer also attempts more formal phrasing, including “contributing factor” and “eventually.” However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “winds … travel thousands of kilometres going through,” “in form of a moist air,” and “dry environment.” There are also spelling errors in “illustrastes” and “temprature.” These do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision. Prefer concise process language such as “winds travel inland,” “moist air rises,” and “conditions are drier,” and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including a relative clause in “which are then pushed upwards” and a result clause in “as a result rain-shadow desert is formed.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “winds … which are then pushed upwards in form of a moist air” has an unclear reference and faulty article use, while “This change is humidity” is an incorrect construction. The final sentence also joins ideas awkwardly. Improve control by making the subject of each stage explicit and checking articles and clause structure: for instance, “The moist air rises and cools, forming clouds.” More consistently accurate sentence patterns would strengthen the description.

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

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