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 given pictogram illustrates the process of formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process is based on thousands of kilometers and it is divided into seven individual steps, starting from the approach of wind from the coast and ending where the dry winds reach the inland areas.

The whole rain-shadow desert formation starts with the winds arriving from the coast traveling over the sea. By natural currents it rises upwards in the step two. On this journey the wind picks up the moisture and cools down. Ultimately, this cold wind is converted into the clouds that pour ran on the peak of the mountain. This whole process takes place on the Windward side of the mountain.

After the rain the air is dried up and it travels the Leeward side of the mountain. This whole downward journey of the air ultimately reaches the inland areas. Resulting in the rain-shadow desert. The whole process depicted in the process diagram takes place over thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You give a relevant overview of the seven-stage process, identifying its start with winds approaching the coast and its end with dry winds reaching inland areas. You also correctly distinguish the windward and leeward sides and explain that rain falls before the air continues inland. However, some stages are less fully or accurately described: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, whereas you say the wind picks up moisture and is “converted into” clouds. The upward movement is attributed to the mountains, not “natural currents,” and the final dry air is described as travelling down the leeward side without clearly explaining that it crosses the mountain. Clarifying these causal links would make the account more complete and precise.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and two paragraphs describing the stages before and after rainfall. The sequence is generally easy to follow, and phrases such as “After the rain” help signal the transition from the windward to the leeward side. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. “Ultimately” is used more than once, and “This whole process” and “This whole downward journey” repeat similar framing. The sentence beginning “Resulting in the rain-shadow desert” is a fragment, so its link to the preceding sentence is not fully controlled. Use a wider range of clear sequencing links and connect the final result grammatically to the air’s movement inland.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “formation,” “moisture,” “windward,” “leeward,” and “inland,” and the technical labels help identify the stages. Some word choices and collocations are imprecise: “pictogram” is not the natural term for this process diagram, “cold wind is converted into the clouds” does not accurately express cloud formation, and “ran” is a spelling error for “rain.” “The air is dried up” is understandable but less natural than describing the air as becoming dry. These choices do not prevent the reader from understanding the general process, but more precise verbs and collocations would improve clarity. Aim to describe what the air does at each stage rather than relying on broad phrases such as “this whole process.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and more complex forms, including the overview clause “starting from … and ending where …” and the sentence beginning “After the rain.” Most of the process remains understandable, but some grammatical choices reduce control. “By natural currents it rises upwards in the step two” has an unclear pronoun reference and an awkwardly formed time expression. The sentence “Resulting in the rain-shadow desert” is a fragment and should be joined to the preceding clause, for example with “thereby creating.” The opening phrase “formation of rain-shadow desert” also needs an article or plural form. Continue using varied sentence structures, while checking complete clauses, articles, and clear subject references.

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