Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

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 picture illustrates how one type of desert is formed which is also called as a rain-shadow desert.

overall, the formation process of the rain-shadow desert consists of seven steps beginning with the winds approach coast and ending with the dry winds reach inland areas. This process occur in the two sides of mountain, one is the windward side and the other is the leeward side.

In the beginning, the winds approach coast before pushed upwards. After that, the winds push upwards, rising the moist air and become cool. In this way, the cloud formation occur. After that, the rain falls on the mountain. This all process occur in the windward side.

In the following steps, dry air continues over mountain. Moreover, the dry winds reach inland areas. These two steps occur in the leeward side. Finally, the rain-shadow desert forms and the winds cover thousand of kilometers in this process.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You identify the diagram as a rain-shadow desert process and give a clear overview of its seven stages, from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. You also distinguish the windward and leeward sides, and most of the sequence is accurately reported. This covers the main features, though some stages are described less fully: for example, the diagram specifically shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, while “rising the moist air and become cool” makes that relationship unclear. The final reference to the desert forming and winds travelling thousands of kilometres is relevant, but the scale is not explained. More precise reporting of these details would make the account more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a sensible overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by the windward-side stages and then the leeward-side stages. Sequencing phrases such as “In the beginning,” “After that,” and “In the following steps” help the reader follow the process. The progression is generally clear, although the repeated use of “After that” and “Moreover” makes some links feel mechanical rather than varied. The sentence “This process occur in the two sides of mountain” also introduces the two sides before the stages are explained, but the reference is not fully clear. Use a wider range of precise links and connect each stage explicitly to the next to strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which allows you to describe the diagram’s key features. The range is adequate, but some word choices and collocations are imprecise or repetitive. For instance, “the winds push upwards” does not clearly express that the mountains force the winds upward, and “the cloud formation occur” is an awkward way to describe clouds forming. “This all process” and “cover thousand of kilometers” are also unclear or unnatural. Aim for more accurate process verbs and natural collocations, while retaining the useful technical terms you already use.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, and the sequence remains understandable despite some grammatical errors. However, errors occur in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. Examples include “This process occur,” “the winds approach coast,” and “before pushed upwards”; these need a singular verb, an article, and a complete passive construction respectively. In “rising the moist air and become cool,” the participle structure does not clearly show what is rising or cooling. There is also inconsistent control of singular and plural forms in “the cloud formation occur.” More accurate clause construction and consistent verb agreement would improve clarity while allowing you to keep using varied sentence patterns.

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.