Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 illustrates the natural process of the formation of rain-shadow desert. It gives us the information about how winds approaching from the sea results in creation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, winds approach coast from the sea toward the mountain, and than winds are pushed upwards, resulting in rain falls. Subsequently, the process continues and dry winds reach inland areas, creating rain-shadow desert.

Initially, from the sea, winds approach coast. The winds are pushed upwards along the windward side of the mountain. This is followed by moist air rising and cooling down, which results in formation of clouds. Subsequently, the rain falls occur.

After reaching the peak of the mountain, dry winds continues over mountain and continue downwards along the leeward side of the mountain. Eventually, dry winds reach inland areas. It countinues to go outward along the inland. Finaly, as the result of this process, rain-shadow desert, is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the full sequence and gives a clear overview: moist air rises and cools, rain falls on the mountain’s windward side, and dry winds continue inland to form the desert. The details about the sea, coast, mountain sides and inland location are consistent with the diagram. This clear coverage and selection of the main stages meet the task well. To make the account more fully developed, explain the causal link more precisely: rainfall removes moisture from the air, leaving it dry as it crosses the mountain and reaches the leeward side. The overview also repeats several stages rather than highlighting the key contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry inland area.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is organised into an introduction, an overview and two chronological detail paragraphs, so the reader can follow the process from the sea to the inland desert. Sequencing expressions such as “Initially,” “Subsequently” and “Eventually” help signal the stages, and the progression is generally clear. This is a coherent overall arrangement. However, some linking is mechanical or repetitive: “Subsequently” appears more than once, and “continues” is repeated in the final paragraph. The overview also retells the sequence rather than establishing a distinct summary. For stronger cohesion, group related stages more tightly and use clearer cause-and-effect links, while avoiding repeated transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing this process, and relevant terms such as “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air” and “rain-shadow desert” show useful task-specific range. The reader can understand the stages despite some imprecise or unnatural choices. For example, “the rain falls occur” is an awkward collocation, while “creation of rain-shadow desert” and “go outward along the inland” do not express the process naturally. There are also spelling errors in “countinues” and “Finaly.” Aim for more precise process language and check spelling; for instance, describe air as losing moisture after rainfall rather than relying on repeated uses of “winds” and “continues.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including “which results in formation of clouds” and “After reaching the peak of the mountain…”. Most stages remain understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction reduce accuracy. In “winds approaching from the sea results,” the plural subject requires “result”; “dry winds continues” also needs plural agreement. Articles are missing in phrases such as “formation of rain-shadow desert” and “formation of clouds.” The final sentence has awkward punctuation around “rain-shadow desert,” and “It countinues to go outward” has an unclear subject. Review subject–verb agreement and article use, and make sure pronouns clearly refer to the air or winds.

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

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