Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-04

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 depicts the formation of the Rain-shadow desert and its development due to atmospheric conditions.

Overall, the formation of this desert takes place in the inland region, which is the otherside of the sea about thousands of kilometers away.The formation mainly takes place due to the influence of the dry winds that blows down the leeward side of the mountain, the one facing the inland areas and not the sea.

The Windward side of the mountain in the one facing towards the sea, where the winds approaching the coastal areas from the sea is pushed to incline upwards, against the slope making the air moist and cooling it down

As a result, the clouds form due to decrease in temperature as the altitude increases and precipitation takes place on the cap of the mountains.

Meanwhile, the dry wind continues to move down the hill, along the Leeward side reaching the land area.This result in the process of Rain-shadow desert that has a great significance geographically.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

You cover the main process accurately: sea winds are forced upwards at the windward side, the air cools, clouds form and rain falls, while dry air crosses the mountain and reaches inland. The overview also identifies the inland location and the role of descending dry winds, so the response addresses the task and presents a clear account. Some details are less fully developed: for example, the diagram shows the winds approaching from the sea and the dry winds continuing over the mountain to the rain-shadow desert, but the final stage is described only as reaching “the land area.” The claim that the desert has “great significance geographically” is not shown in the diagram and adds little to the process summary. More precise coverage of the final stage would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an overview followed by an account of the windward and leeward stages. “Overall,” “As a result,” and “Meanwhile” help signal the relationship between ideas, and the sequence is generally easy to follow. However, progression is not consistently smooth: the first body paragraph begins with a long, loosely connected sentence, and the final sentence shifts from describing the process to an unsupported comment about geographical significance. Some references, such as “the one facing the inland areas,” require the reader to infer that this means the leeward side. To move further, organise the stages in a more controlled sequence and use clear paragraphing and references so each sentence connects directly to the previous stage.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “atmospheric conditions,” “precipitation,” “altitude,” “windward side,” and “leeward side.” These terms help convey the diagram’s subject, and the meaning is generally clear. There are, however, some imprecise or awkward choices: “the otherside of the sea” does not clearly express the inland location, “incline upwards” is less natural for air being forced up a slope, and “the cap of the mountains” is not an accurate collocation for the peak area. “This result in the process” is also an unclear phrase. Aim for precise, natural process language and avoid adding vague evaluative wording such as “great significance geographically,” which is not supported by the visual.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of sentence forms, including a cause-and-effect construction (“As a result, the clouds form…”) and a contrast introduced by “Meanwhile.” However, control is uneven, and several errors occur in basic sentence patterns as well as in longer clauses. For example, “the winds … is pushed” has subject–verb agreement and passive-form problems; “the air moist and cooling it down” is not a complete, well-formed construction; and “This result in” lacks the required verb agreement. The opening body sentence also runs on without clear punctuation, while “where the winds … is pushed” creates an unclear clause structure. Build shorter, accurate sentences first, then combine stages using correctly formed clauses and consistent punctuation.

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