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 opposite side of the sea,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.This process innvolves several stages.

The Windward side of the mountain in the one facing towards the sea, where the warm winds approaching the coastal areas from the ocean are forced to incline upwards, against the slope making the air moist.These moisture laden winds cools down due to decrease in temperature as the altitude increases resulting in formation of clouds over the mountains.

As a result, precipitation takes place on the peak of the mountains.

Meanwhile, the dry wind continues to move down the hill, after the moisture is completely drained out in the form of rain along the Leeward side reaching the land area.It is due to these dry winds with no moisture in them results in formation of rain-shadow desert that has a great significance geographically.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response covers the main stages and gives a clear overall account: moist air rises on the sea-facing slope, cools, forms clouds and produces rain, while drier air crosses the mountain and reaches inland. This addresses the process and its outcome, with relevant use of the windward and leeward sides. However, some details are imprecise or over-interpreted. The diagram shows winds approaching from the sea, but does not identify them as warm; it also places rainfall above the windward slope and peak, rather than specifically on the peak. The claim that the desert has “great significance geographically” is unsupported. For a stronger response, report the stages more precisely and avoid adding evaluations not shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by the windward-side stages and then the movement of dry air inland. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “As a result” and “Meanwhile” help the reader follow the process. This is a coherent arrangement, but some links are awkward or unclear. For example, “after the moisture is completely drained out in the form of rain along the Leeward side” makes the location and sequence of rainfall confusing, while “It is due to these dry winds … results in formation” disrupts the final connection. The overview also combines several points in a long sentence. Use clearer stage-by-stage transitions and divide complex explanations where needed to make progression more fluent.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is a useful range of process vocabulary, including “approaching,” “moisture laden,” “altitude,” “precipitation” and “leeward side,” which allows the writer to describe the diagram beyond basic terms. Some less common choices are not fully natural or precise, however: “forced to incline upwards” is an awkward way to describe air rising, and “moisture is completely drained out” is not an appropriate collocation for rain removing moisture from air. “Great significance geographically” is also vague and does not add useful information. Spelling and word-form slips such as “innvolves” and “moisture laden” (normally hyphenated as a compound modifier) reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, conventional process collocations and check spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of sentence forms, including a relative clause (“the one facing the inland areas”) and cause-and-effect structures, but control is uneven. Agreement errors appear in “the dry winds that blows” and “These moisture laden winds cools down.” The sentence beginning “It is due to these dry winds … results” has a faulty construction; use either “These dry winds result in…” or “It is due to these dry winds that…”. There are also article and punctuation problems, such as “in formation of clouds” and missing spaces after commas and full stops. These errors sometimes make relationships between stages harder to follow. Practise checking subject–verb agreement and building complete, grammatically consistent cause-and-effect sentences.

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.