Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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 illustration gives information about the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the wind covers the distance of more than thousands of kilometer between the sea and the rain-shadow deserts. Rain usually falls at the top of mountain just after the formation of clouds due to rise and cooling of moist air from coastal area. After raining, dry air reaches the inland areas at the end of cycle.

The cycle starts with the approaching of sea breee at coast from where it is pushed upward due to the presence of the mountains. The air gets moist while moving upward and with the rise from sea level, its temperature decreases. Clouds form at the winward side of the mountain before the rain falls at the top of the mountain.

Furthermore, as the rain fall stops, air become dry and continues over the leeward side of mountain. Eventually dry iwnds approach the inland areas forming rain-shadwo desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overall account: moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls on the mountain, and the remaining dry air moves inland to create the desert. The overview also identifies the broad distance between the sea and inland desert. These details are generally consistent with the diagram. To make the account more complete and precise, distinguish more clearly between the windward and leeward sides and explain that the air is pushed upward by the mountain before it cools and loses moisture. The claim that the air “gets moist while moving upward” is not supported by the diagram, which identifies it as moist air before it rises. Overall, the key process is addressed, though a few details are imprecise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, an overview, and a chronological description of the process. Sequencing expressions such as “The cycle starts,” “Furthermore,” and “Eventually” help the reader follow the stages, and the progression from the coast to inland areas is easy to recognise. However, “Furthermore” does not express the relationship between the stages as naturally as a direct sequence marker would, and the overview repeats information that is then described again. Some references, such as “it” in “from where it is pushed upward,” could be clearer about whether they refer to the wind or the air. More precise linking and reference would make the cohesion less mechanical and the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is adequate vocabulary for describing the process, including “coastal area,” “moist air,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas.” The writer also attempts relevant process language such as “formation” and “approaching.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “sea breee” appears to mean “sea breeze,” “air gets moist” is not the diagram’s meaning, and “rain-shadow desert” is misspelled as “rain-shadwo desert.” “Rain fall stops” is also less natural than “after the rain falls” or “once precipitation has occurred.” These errors do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision. Aim for accurate spelling and conventional collocations when describing each stage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex structures, including the cause-and-effect clause “due to the presence of the mountains” and the time clause “just after the formation of clouds.” Most relationships remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur. For example, “air become dry” needs subject–verb agreement (“air becomes dry”), while “the rain fall stops” has an incorrect verb form and article use. Articles and plurals are also inconsistent in phrases such as “at top of mountain” and “the leeward side of mountain.” The sentence beginning “The cycle starts with the approaching…” is awkwardly constructed. Greater control of agreement, articles, and sentence phrasing would improve accuracy while retaining the current range of structures.

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

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