Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-26

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 how the specific type of desert is formed, called a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it is clear that it was a linear, natural process consists of seven stages, beginning with the winds which approached coast through the sea and culminating with the dry wind which reached inland areas.

In the first place, wind came from the sea and reached at the coast in stage 1 while in stage 2 it was pushed upwards by the mountain. The moist air rose and cooled at the windward side of mountains in stage 3 which led to the formation of clouds which is called the stage 4.

Regarding the other stages, Rain started falling at the peak of the mountain in stage 5 followed by stage 6 in which dry air blowed continously over the mountain from the leeward side which led them to reach to the last stage by pushing downwards. Dry air reached inland areas in the final stage results in the formation of Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and provide an overview that identifies a seven-stage natural process, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland. The account also includes the key transition from moist air rising and cooling to cloud formation and rainfall. Some details, however, are less fully or accurately reported: the diagram shows dry air continuing over the mountain and dry winds reaching inland, but it does not show the air being pushed downwards or explicitly state that this final stage itself forms the desert. The windward and leeward sides are mentioned, though their roles could be explained more clearly. To strengthen the response, describe the contrast between rainfall on the windward side and dry conditions beyond the leeward side more precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Connectors such as “Overall,” “In the first place,” and “Regarding the other stages” help signal progression, and the numbered stages make the process easy to follow. Some linking is mechanical, however, and the final sentence’s “final stage results” construction makes the relationship between the dry winds and desert formation unclear. The second body paragraph also combines several stages in a long sentence, which weakens the separation of ideas. Use more precise transitions and divide the later stages into clearer units; this would make the progression smoother and referencing more consistently clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “formation,” and “culminating.” These terms show awareness of the diagram’s subject and generally communicate the stages. Some choices are imprecise or awkward in context, such as “wind came from the sea,” “Rain started falling,” and “pushing downwards”; the last phrase is not supported by the diagram. There are also spelling and word-form slips, including “continously” and “blowed,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural collocations and consistent technical phrasing, for example, “winds blow in from the sea” and “dry air continues across the leeward side.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex structures, including a relative clause in “a specific type of desert … called a rain-shadow desert” and a cause-and-effect clause with “which led to.” However, some errors in sentence structure, tense, agreement, and articles remain. For example, “it was a linear, natural process consists of seven stages” needs a relative clause or a different verb construction, while “clouds which is called” has a plural agreement error. “Dry air blowed” also uses an incorrect verb form, and “final stage results” lacks a clear grammatical connection to the preceding clause. These issues do not prevent the reader from following the process, but checking clause structure and maintaining accurate past-tense forms would improve control.

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