Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-10

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 graph illustrates different stages of which a desert goes through before reaching its final state. The desert shown is called a rain-shadow desert.

The formation depends mainly in two stages.One is where the wind is travelling upwards called the windward side and the the second where the wind is travelling downwards called leeward side. In the windward side, winds coming from the sea reaches the coast and is pushed towards the upper side of mountain. On the way, the wind captures moisture consequently the tempreture of the wind drops. This cool wind then results in the formation of clouds. The clouds after travelling some distance become heavy causing rain.

In the second stage, the wind travells towards the dry land. At this point the wind starts to travel downwards. The wind while covering distance becomes dry. The dry wind then reaches the inland areas resulting in the formation of rain-shadow desert. To form this desert, the wind covers thousand of kilometers before reaching its final stage.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from sea winds rising over the mountains to rain on the windward side and dry air reaching inland, and you identify the result as a rain-shadow desert. This is relevant and gives the reader a generally accurate account of the process. However, some details are less fully or precisely reported: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, whereas “the wind captures moisture” is not explicitly shown, and the description of the wind becoming dry while descending could explain more clearly that rain has already fallen on the opposite slope. The overview is also limited; a clearer summary of the contrast between the wet windward side and dry leeward side would make the key feature more explicit. Develop that contrast and follow the labelled stages closely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: it introduces the process, describes the windward side, and then moves to the leeward side and inland desert. Sequencing phrases such as “In the second stage” and “At this point” help the reader follow the stages. However, the division into “two stages” is somewhat mechanical and does not map neatly onto all the numbered steps in the diagram. Some links are also unclear or repetitive, particularly the repeated use of “wind” and “The wind” at the start of successive sentences. The opening paragraph could provide a more informative overview, followed by paragraphs that group the stages logically. Use a wider range of precise references and transitions to show cause and sequence without repeatedly restarting each sentence.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” “formation of clouds,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally clear. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “consequently” and “resulting in.” However, several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “the wind captures moisture,” “the wind travels towards the dry land,” and “reaching its final stage” do not describe the diagram as naturally or precisely as they could. Spelling errors such as “tempreture” and “travells” also reduce accuracy. Aim for standard process terms and collocations, for example, “moist air rises,” “cools,” “precipitation falls,” and “dry air descends.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect structures such as “The clouds … become heavy causing rain” and “The dry wind then reaches the inland areas resulting in…” The sequence is usually understandable, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “winds coming from the sea reaches the coast” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “depends mainly in two stages” uses an incorrect preposition and construction. There are also article and sentence-boundary issues in “One is where … called the windward side and the the second,” as well as inconsistent spacing after full stops. To improve, check agreement and articles, and make sure each sentence has a clear grammatical structure. More accurate complex sentences would help express the stages and their causes.

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