Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-06

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 6.0)

The given diagram illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert. It is clear that the rain-shadow desert formation has 7 major steps, begins with winds reaching to the coast.

In the first stage, winds approch to the coast along the sea surface. Then the winds pushed upwards due to the barriers like large mountains which long thousand of kilometers.After that moist air cools and raises further to form the clouds. At the fifth stage, formed clouds falls the rain to the ground. This rain falled to the windward side of the mountain. After the rainfall, the air with less moisture, continues to over the mountain through the other side of the mountain, which is the leeward side. finally, these dry winds reach the inland areas making less avilable rainfall. Due to this less rain availability inland areas called as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it can be seen that rain-shadow dessert formation is a complex process with 7 different steps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence and identify the key contrast between the rainy windward side and the dry inland leeward side. Details such as air rising, cooling, cloud formation, rainfall, and dry winds continuing inland are relevant and mostly match the diagram. However, some stages are not fully clear: for example, the account does not explicitly explain that the moist air rises as it is forced over the mountains, and the overview mainly repeats that there are seven steps rather than summarising the process’s overall cause and outcome. The claim that the mountains extend for thousands of kilometres misreads the diagram’s scale arrow, which indicates distance across the landscape. Clarifying this and giving a more informative overview would make the report more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall sequence, using markers such as “In the first stage,” “Then,” “After that,” and “After the rainfall” to guide the reader through the process. The explanation also moves logically from the coast and mountains to the inland desert, and the final sentence links reduced rainfall with desert formation. This meets the expected level of coherent organisation, with some progression beyond a simple list. However, the paragraphing is limited, and the repeated stage-by-stage transitions make the account somewhat mechanical. The reference in “which is the leeward side” is understandable but could be integrated more smoothly. Grouping the stages into a brief overview and a clearly organised process description would improve flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a relevant range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “inland areas,” and “rain-shadow desert.” These terms help communicate the diagram’s main features, and the meaning is generally clear despite some inaccurate choices. For instance, “winds approch to the coast” and “less avilable rainfall” are awkward or misspelled, while “rain-shadow dessert” confuses the spelling of “desert.” “Rain falled” and “clouds falls the rain” also show imprecise word choice and collocation. Aim for accurate, natural phrases such as “winds approach the coast,” “rain falls on the windward side,” and “receive little rainfall.” This would make your adequate vocabulary more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a sequence of clauses linked with “which” and “After the rainfall.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but errors in verb forms, sentence construction, and punctuation are noticeable. For example, “the winds pushed upwards” needs a passive auxiliary (“are pushed”), while “moist air cools and raises” has an incorrect verb form and unclear subject. The sentence beginning “At the fifth stage” also has faulty structure: clouds do not “falls the rain.” There are further issues with articles and sentence boundaries, as in “formation of rain-shadow desert” and the run-on after “kilometers.” Practise accurate passive forms and check each clause for a clear subject and verb.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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