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 formation of a rain-shadow desert involves a series of events as it forms right under the mountains guarding the sea . The wind blowing over the sea ends up travelling thousands of kilometers away crossing the tall mountains and end up forming a rain-shadow desert.

Firstly, the wind blowing over the sea approaches the coast with immense pressure. This pressure pushes the wind upwards toward the top of the mountains.

As this wind carries alot of moisture from the sea when it starts to gain aptitude it gets colder. This moist air start to form clouds on windward side of the mountains.Then, these clouds brust into rain fall on the top of the mountains.

After the rain fall the dry air continues to blow over the leeward side of the mountains. When this dry air decend down mountains and reaches the inland area it results in a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from sea winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland and producing a rain-shadow desert. The overview identifies the mountains as central to the process, and details such as cloud formation and rainfall on the windward side are relevant and consistent with the diagram. This meets the task well, though some stages are explained more fully than others: the final movement of dry air over the mountain and down the leeward side is compressed, and the opening claim that the desert forms “right under the mountains” is imprecise because it lies inland beyond the leeward side. For a fuller account, distinguish the windward and leeward sides clearly and describe the final inland location precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall progression, moving from an introduction through the stages in sequence, and “Firstly,” “Then,” and “After the rain fall” help signal the process. Paragraphing also separates the opening from the main stages. However, some links are mechanical or unclear: “This pressure” does not accurately refer to the wind being pushed upwards, and the transition from cloud formation to rainfall is crowded into one sentence. The opening repeats the idea of forming a desert, while the final stage could be more distinctly presented. Use concise stage-to-stage links and make references such as “this air” unambiguous to strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “moisture,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland area,” which helps convey the diagram’s key concepts. There are also attempts at more descriptive wording, such as “travelling thousands of kilometers.” However, several choices are inaccurate or unnatural for this process: wind approaches with “immense pressure,” air “gain[s] aptitude,” and clouds “brust into rain fall.” Spelling and word-form slips also occur, including “alot” and “decend.” These do not prevent the reader from understanding the sequence, but more precise collocations and careful proofreading would improve control. Prefer neutral, technical wording over dramatic expressions.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple sentences and longer clauses, including “As this wind carries… when it starts to gain… it gets colder,” so there is some structural variety. The sequence remains understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence boundaries are noticeable. For example, “This moist air start to form clouds” needs subject–verb agreement, while “when it starts to gain… it gets colder” has an unclear pronoun reference. The sentence beginning “As this wind…” also needs clearer punctuation and structure. Review agreement and verb forms, and divide long sentences where several stages are being described; this will make the process easier to follow accurately.

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

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