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 formation of rain-shadow desert, which occurs through seven different stages over thousands of kilometeres.

Overall, the moist sea winds approach the Windward side, resulting in the formation of rain on this side and leaving dry air on the Leeward side which produces the Rain-shadow desert on the Inland. This process spans thousands of kilometeres.

On one side, the winds approach the coast from the sea and are pushed towards the mountain where the moist air from the sea rises and cools down as the temperature decreases. After this, the moist air near the top of the mountain merges to create clouds. These clouds then move towards the top of the mountain resulting rain on the peak. All five steps untill rain formation are on the Windward side.

On the other side, the dry air left after the rain continues to move towards the Leeward side. Finally, this dry air travels thousands of kilometers towards the bottom of the mountain where it reaches the inland areas which as a result produce a Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overview: moist air rises on the windward side, rain falls, and drier air continues inland to create the desert. It also notes the diagram’s broad scale. These points show a sound understanding of the process. Some details, however, are less precise or developed. The clouds are described as moving towards the mountain peak, whereas the diagram shows them forming above the windward side; the account also says the air travels towards the “bottom of the mountain,” which is not indicated. The overview could more clearly explain that the mountain causes the moist air to rise and lose moisture before the dry air descends or continues over the leeward side. More exact reporting of the sequence would strengthen the summary.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is arranged in a clear sequence, with an introduction, an overview, and separate paragraphs for the windward and leeward sides. Sequencing phrases such as “After this” and “Finally” help the reader follow the stages. The overall progression is coherent, though some linking is mechanical and a few references are imprecise. For example, “These clouds then move towards the top of the mountain” suggests movement not shown in the diagram, while “this side” and “the other side” require the reader to infer which mountain slope is meant. The phrase “All five steps” also interrupts the process description rather than smoothly connecting the stages. Use more precise references to the windward and leeward slopes and link each stage directly to its cause or result.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for describing a process, and terms such as “moist air,” “Windward side,” “Leeward side,” and “Rain-shadow desert” show relevant topic knowledge. There is also some useful process language, including “approach,” “rises,” “cools,” and “continues.” However, several choices are imprecise or unnatural: “moist sea winds” is less accurate than moist air carried by winds, “merges to create clouds” does not describe cloud formation clearly, and “produce a Rain-shadow desert” is an awkward collocation. “Kilometeres” and “untill” are spelling errors, and capitalisation of the named features is inconsistent. More precise process vocabulary and careful spelling would improve control and flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including relative clauses (“which occurs through seven different stages”) and time clauses (“as the temperature decreases”). Most sentences communicate the process clearly, but some grammatical inaccuracies remain. In “resulting in the formation of rain … and leaving dry air,” the parallel structure is awkward; “resulting in rainfall … while leaving dry air” would be clearer. “These clouds then move … resulting rain” is missing a grammatical link such as “in,” and “the inland areas which as a result produce” has an unclear clause structure. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “towards the mountain” and “on the Inland.” Aim for more consistently controlled complex sentences, especially when connecting a stage to its consequence.

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