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 process diagram illustrates the formation of a kind of desert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process is quite long with 7 different steps involves. The formation of desert occurs several thousands of kilometers away from the sea coast. This process completed in many years.

At first, the wind approaches the coast at sea level. From here the wind pushed upwards along with the mountains. As the air goes up, it locks the moisture in it and become cool which is important for the formation of clouds. At the windward side of the mountain, clouds forms here, and followed with the rain falls at the top of the mountains.

After rain, the air lost its moisture and, becomes dry. In the next step, the dry air continues downward along with the leeward side of the mountain, and it eventually reaches the inland areas. At this point, the rain-shadow desert. The desert is thousands of kilometers away from the sea coast.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from coastal winds rising over the mountains to rain on the windward side and dry air reaching inland, and your overview identifies the process as having seven stages. These details are broadly consistent with the diagram. However, some points are less fully or accurately described: the diagram shows the air continuing over the mountain toward the leeward side, but “continues downward along with the leeward side” is imprecise, and “This process completed in many years” adds a duration that the diagram does not provide. The thousands-of-kilometres label indicates distance, not how long formation takes. To strengthen the response, give a clearer overview of the contrast between the wet windward side and the dry inland rain-shadow area, and avoid unsupported claims.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response follows the process in a sensible order, and the paragraph break separates the overview from the stage-by-stage account. Sequencing phrases such as “At first,” “From here,” and “In the next step” help the reader follow the stages. This gives the description a coherent overall arrangement. Some links are mechanical or unclear, however: “At this point, the rain-shadow desert” is an incomplete transition, while “and followed with the rain falls” makes the relationship between cloud formation and precipitation difficult to follow. The repeated references to the desert being thousands of kilometres from the coast also add little progression. Use complete linking clauses and make each stage lead clearly into the next.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moisture,” and “inland areas,” which allows you to describe the diagram’s main features. There is also some useful variation in referring to “wind,” “air,” and “clouds.” However, several word choices and collocations are imprecise, such as “locks the moisture in it,” “the air lost its moisture,” and “the desert is thousands of kilometers away.” The phrase “formation of a kind of desert called rain-shadow desert” is also repetitive and could be more concise. These choices do not prevent understanding, but they limit precision. Aim for natural process language, for example, “moist air rises,” “loses its moisture,” and “a rain-shadow desert forms inland.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including “As the air goes up…” and “After rain, the air lost its moisture…,” and the sequence is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly with agreement, verb forms, and sentence completeness. For example, “7 different steps involves” should be “seven different steps are involved,” and “clouds forms” should be “clouds form.” In “This process completed in many years,” the verb phrase is incomplete; a suitable form would be “This process takes many years,” though that duration is not supported by the diagram. “At this point, the rain-shadow desert” is also a fragment. More consistent tense and complete clauses would improve accuracy while preserving your range of sentence forms.

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