Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-12

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 diagram explains the process of forming rain-shadow desert.

Overall, this process consists of seven stages, beginning with winds approach to sea coast and ending with dry winds which reach inland areas. Another important feature of this process diagram is, most of the steps take part in windward side, while the leeward side remain almost dry. The distance between the windward side and leeward side are almost thousands of kilometres.

Firt and foremost, winds are approached to sea coast. Following this the winds are started to pushed in the upward directions. After this, the moist air rises and begin to become cool. Subsequently, clouds are formed in the windward side. As a result, rain falls and happend in the windward side.

On the other hand, dry airs are produced and coontinues over mountain at the leeward side. Finally, dry winds are reached in the inland areas. And eventually, the rain-shadow forest in formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast through rainfall to dry winds reaching inland, and your overview identifies the contrast between the wetter windward side and the dry leeward side. This gives the reader a sound account of the process. Some details, however, are less fully or accurately reported: the diagram shows moist air rising and cooling before clouds form, but the explanation of this transition is brief. The final statement that a “rain-shadow forest” forms is inaccurate; the diagram labels the inland feature as a “rain-shadow desert.” The claim that the distance between the two mountain sides is thousands of kilometres also misreads the scale, which indicates the horizontal extent shown. More precise reporting of these features would strengthen the response.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction and overview are followed by the windward stages and then the leeward stages. Sequencing expressions such as “Following this,” “Subsequently,” and “Finally” help show the order of events. However, some linking is mechanical or awkward, and the shift to “On the other hand” suggests a contrast rather than the next stage in one continuous process. The sentence beginning “Another important feature” combines several points, including an unclear statement about distance, which weakens progression. The final “And eventually” also creates an unnecessary fragment-like continuation. Use clearer paragraphing and simpler links such as “After rainfall” to make the process flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” and “inland areas,” so the topic is generally clear. There is also some attempt to vary wording with “subsequently” and “as a result.” However, inaccurate word forms, spelling, and collocations are noticeable: “Firt,” “happend,” and “coontinues” are misspelled, while “rain-shadow forest” names the wrong feature. Phrases such as “winds are approached” and “upward directions” are not natural descriptions of this process. The range is sufficient to communicate the basic stages, but greater accuracy and more natural combinations of words are needed for clearer, more precise reporting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a sequence of clauses linked by “After this” and “As a result.” Nevertheless, errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction are frequent enough to make several sentences awkward. For example, “winds are approached” and “the winds are started to pushed” use incorrect passive constructions; “the moist air rises and begin” has a subject–verb agreement error; and “the leeward side remain” also needs agreement. In “The distance … are,” the singular subject requires a singular verb. Some sentences remain understandable, but these recurring errors limit control. Practise accurate present-simple descriptions of processes and check each subject–verb pairing.

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