The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.
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Sample Response
The diagram explains the way in which rain-shadow deserts are created. Overall, the process begins when moist maritime air is forced over a mountain range, where it sheds its moisture as rain before descending as dry air to form an arid inland desert.
The formation of the desertdessert begins with the winds approaching the coastcoast of the seaside , which are then pushed upwards towards the mountain peaks , passing the windward side. It is then followed by the process of moist air rising and cooling.
Following this, this cooling leads to cloud formationcooled air is transformed into clouds. Next,In the next step, heavy rain falls over the windward slopes, depleting the clouds of their moisture. Subsequently, the dry air continues to descend the mountain, passingmountain passing the leeward side.
Finally,In the final stage, the dry winds eventually reach inland areas, creating the rain-shadow desert. During this process, the winds travel thousands of kilometers across the entire landformbefore they get inland and finishfinishes the entire cycleoverall process of rain-shadow desert formation.
Why this response received Band 7.0
The response provides a clear overview and accurately describes all major stages of the desert formation process depicted in the diagram. However, minor vocabulary slip-ups and occasional mechanical cohesive devices slightly hinder the overall polish of the writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on eliminating basic spelling and agreement errors while varying transitional expressions for a more natural text flow.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Achievement
All seven stages of the process are highlighted and logically explained alongside a clear overview.
Ensure scale details and distances from the visual prompt are interpreted with precise phrasing.
Coherence and Cohesion
Information is arranged in a clear step-by-step chronological sequence with clear paragraphing.
Vary sequential markers to avoid relying on repetitive formulaic phrases like 'following this' or 'in the next step'.
Lexical Resource
A good range of topic-specific vocabulary is used effectively, including terms like 'windward' and 'leeward'.
Check spelling carefully to prevent simple errors such as confusing 'dessert' with 'desert'.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A variety of complex sentence structures are used with generally good grammatical control throughout.
Ensure subject-verb agreement remains accurate when coordinating multiple verbs across long sentences.