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 processes involve in the formation of rain shadow desert.

Overall, the process include seven steps, beginning from winds approaching coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. The process take place over thousands of kilometers with five steps take place on the windward side while ramaining two steps on the leeward side.

Initially, the process starts when wind from the sea approach the coast and pushed upward by mountainous terrain. As the moist air rises along the windward side, it cools and clouds are formed. Rain falls on the windward side so much of its moisture lost there.

Having lost its moisture, the air continues over the mountain as dry air, moving down the opposite slope. The dry air then continues across thousands of kilometres before reaching inland areas as dry winds. It is this continuous flow of moisture-depleted air that ultimately results in the formation of a rain-shadow desert inland, far from the coast where the process originally began.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response gives a clear overview of the seven-stage process, identifying its start and end points and distinguishing the windward and leeward sides. It accurately explains the key causal sequence: moist air rises and cools, clouds form, rain falls, and the remaining dry air moves inland to create the desert. The reference to the process extending over thousands of kilometres is also grounded in the diagram. This is a well-focused account with relevant detail. To make the description more complete and precise, report the diagram’s labels more directly—for example, that the dry winds reach inland areas beyond the leeward side—and avoid adding an implication such as “continuous flow” that is not explicitly shown. Overall, the main features are clearly selected and explained.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The information is arranged in a logical sequence, moving from an overview to the windward stages and then to the air’s movement inland. Paragraphing supports this progression, and links such as “Initially,” “As,” and “Having lost its moisture” help the reader follow the process. The overview also gives the response a clear direction. However, some connections are slightly mechanical, and the final sentence repeats the idea that dry air reaches inland areas after this has already been stated. The phrase “five steps take place on the windward side while remaining two steps on the leeward side” is not fully clear as a division of the diagram’s stages. More precise referencing and less repetition would make cohesion more flexible and the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The response uses an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “moist air,” “windward side,” “moisture-depleted,” and “ultimately,” which helps explain the diagram. Some less common wording is attempted, but there are inaccuracies and awkward choices: “processes involve” is not the correct form, “ramaining” is misspelled, and “wind” is used where the plural “winds” is more appropriate. “Rain shadow desert” should also be consistently presented as the compound term “rain-shadow desert.” These slips do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision and naturalness. Aim for accurate collocations and word forms, and prefer concise, diagram-based terms over phrases such as “continuous flow of moisture-depleted air.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including subordinate clauses such as “As the moist air rises…” and the participial opening “Having lost its moisture…”. The sequence remains understandable, but errors in verb forms and agreement recur: “processes involve” should be “processes involved,” “the process include” should be “the process includes,” and “wind … approach” should be “winds … approach” or “wind … approaches.” The construction “with five steps take place” is also faulty; use “with five steps taking place.” In “Rain falls … so much of its moisture lost there,” a finite verb is missing (“so much of its moisture is lost there”). More consistent control of agreement and complete clauses would improve accuracy while retaining the range of structures attempted.

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.