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)

The diagram outlines how the desert, named as rain-shadow is developed through various stages. Overall, the sequence is linear and consisits of 7 major steps, each necessary for the outcome.

One main aspect according to the picture is that the distance of the mountain along which the air passes by is thousands of kilometres. Moreover, wind plays important role in the desert formation by travelling across that mountain.

The process mainly begins when the winds passes over the sea and approaches the coastal region, where it is pushed in upward direction. Next the moist air rises and cools. The windward side of the mountain is the region where nearby cloud formation occurs. Clouds subsequently causes in rain fall. Whereas, the dry air continues over the mountain and moves downward along the leeward side of mountain.

After that, dry winds reach the inland areas that eventually give rise to the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response identifies the process as a sequence and reports its main stages, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland and the formation of the desert. It also correctly distinguishes the windward and leeward sides and mentions the thousands-of-kilometres scale. However, some details are less fully or clearly explained: for example, the account does not explicitly connect the sea’s moisture to the moist air, and “give rise to the rain-shadow desert” leaves the final causal link rather general. The overview that there are seven steps is useful, but it could summarise the key transformation more clearly: moist air rises, cools and produces rain on the windward side, leaving dry air to descend inland. This would make the main features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the early stages and then the inland outcome. Sequencing expressions such as “Overall,” “Next,” and “After that” help the reader follow the process. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or unclear. “One main aspect according to the picture” introduces a scale observation that is not smoothly connected to the process overview, while “Whereas” begins a sentence fragment rather than clearly linking the rain and the subsequent movement of dry air. Some references, such as “that mountain,” could also be more precise. Grouping the stages into a more continuous explanation and using cause-and-effect links would improve progression and make the relationships between stages clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

There is an adequate range for describing a process, including relevant terms such as “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry air,” and “inland areas.” The writer also attempts more formal wording, for example “subsequently” and “eventually,” and the meaning is generally clear. Some choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, however: “the desert, named as rain-shadow,” “is developed,” “passes by,” and “clouds subsequently causes in rain fall” do not sound natural in this context. There is also a spelling error in “consisits.” To strengthen the vocabulary, use standard process language consistently, such as “is formed,” “moves across,” and “clouds produce rainfall,” while checking spelling and word forms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview sentence and the sequence of clauses describing rising and cooling air. Most stages remain understandable despite some grammatical errors. Examples include “the winds passes,” where the subject and verb do not agree, and “Clouds subsequently causes,” which has the same agreement problem. “Whereas, the dry air continues…” is not a complete, well-formed contrast in this position, and “the distance of the mountain … is thousands of kilometres” uses an unclear grammatical relationship to express the scale. Articles and prepositions also need attention in phrases such as “plays important role” and “along the leeward side of mountain.” More accurate agreement and complete sentence structures would improve control.

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