Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-08

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)

This diagram illustrates the formation of Rain-shadow desert from wind approach sea area to cover thousands of kilometers to form a desert.

Firstly, winds start moving from sea to coast and then it pushed upwards towards the mountains and from there it became cool and moist air rises from windward side and helped in the formation of clouds right beside the peak of mountain. Moving forward , from clouds torrential weather appeared and it helps to form rain over the top of the mountain. All those events occurred on the one side of the mountain.

However, on the other side of the mountain dry air continues from peak of mountain to the downward side named as Leeward side. After reaching in Leeward side it flows toward inland areas. Dry wind approached there and form a desert, known as a "Rain-shadow desert".

To conclude , this diagram assists us to understand how rain-shadow desert formed from thousands of kilometers away from the inland area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland, and you correctly distinguish the rainy windward side from the leeward side where the rain-shadow desert forms. The description of clouds and rainfall above the mountains also reflects the diagram. This gives the account a clear, relevant overview, though some stages are less precisely explained: “torrential weather appeared” is not a clear report of the labelled rainfall, and the final sentence suggests the desert forms “thousands of kilometers away from the inland area,” whereas the scale simply indicates a long horizontal distance. To strengthen the response, state the process more precisely and make the overview explicit: moist air rises, cools and rains on the windward side; the remaining dry air crosses the mountain and reaches inland areas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response follows the process in a generally logical order, using “Firstly,” “Moving forward,” and “However” to guide the reader from the sea-facing slope to the inland side. The paragraph break also helps separate the two sides of the mountain. These features make the overall progression understandable. However, some linking is mechanical or imprecise: “Moving forward” does not clearly signal the next stage, while “All those events occurred on the one side” and “However, on the other side” repeat the same contrast. The conclusion repeats the topic without adding a useful summary. Use clearer stage links such as “As a result” and “Once the air crosses the peak,” and group the stages into a concise introduction/overview and a detailed sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “Leeward side,” “inland areas,” “moist air,” and “Rain-shadow desert,” which shows an adequate range for describing the diagram. Some less common wording is attempted, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and reduce precision. For example, “torrential weather appeared” does not naturally describe the diagram’s rainfall, and “cover thousands of kilometers” misuses the scale label. “Dry wind approached there” is also less precise than describing dry winds reaching inland. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent terms rather than more elaborate phrasing; this will make the stages easier to follow. Check capitalization of common terms such as “rain-shadow desert” and “leeward side” as well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a sequence joined with “and then” and a contrast introduced by “However.” The main process remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. In “then it pushed upwards,” the subject is plural (“winds”), so the verb should be “are pushed”; “it became cool and moist air rises” also shifts tense and has an unclear subject. Articles and sentence construction need attention in phrases such as “from wind approach sea area” and “formation of Rain-shadow desert.” Punctuation spacing is inconsistent, and the final sentence lacks a clear grammatical relationship between the desert and the distance. Use present simple consistently for a process, and check each sentence for a clear subject and matching verb.

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