Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-13

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 diagram illustartes the formation of a desert known as rain-shadow desert.

Overall,the process includes a total of seven steps.The formation of the desert starts from the coast side of the mountains where the wind pushes the coast upwards to form the clouds inorder to start the rainfall.Dry air travels towards the inland side of the mountains where the formation of the desert is formed finally.Whole process moves along the distance of thousands of kilometres along the mountains.

The process starts from the coast side of the mountain where it connects to the sea,wind approaches the coast and pushes it upward to the windward side of the mountains where the moist air rises and cools to form the clouds.After the formation of clouds rainfalls starts at the top of the mountains.

After the rainfalls the dry air continues to move over the leeward side of the mountains.The dry winds then reaches to the inland of the mountains where the rain-shadow deserts are formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main sequence and provide an overview that identifies seven stages, beginning at the coast and ending with dry winds reaching inland areas. The account correctly includes rising, cooling moist air, cloud formation, rainfall, and the continuation of dry air over the mountains. This gives the reader a sound understanding of the process. Some details are less fully or precisely explained: for example, “the wind pushes the coast upwards” misrepresents the diagram, which shows winds being pushed upwards as they meet the mountains. The overview also repeats the idea of desert formation without clearly highlighting the key contrast between rainfall on the windward side and arid conditions inland on the leeward side. Clarifying these points would make the main features more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs describing the stages in sequence. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “The process starts,” “After the formation,” and “After the rainfalls” help the reader follow the process. The progression is generally logical, and the final sentence brings the description to its endpoint. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear, and the overview repeats information that is then given again in the body. For instance, the description of dry air moving inland appears in both the overview and the final paragraph. More precise referencing and less repetition would make the cohesion smoother, while retaining the effective chronological structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “rainfall,” and “inland,” which helps communicate the diagram’s subject. There is also some attempt to vary wording through phrases such as “formation,” “travels,” and “continues to move.” However, several choices are inaccurate or awkward: “the wind pushes the coast upwards” confuses the coast with the air, and “the formation of the desert is formed” is repetitive and imprecise. Spelling and word-form slips such as “illustartes” and “rainfalls” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise process collocations, such as winds being forced upwards and a desert developing, and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “where” and “where the moist air rises and cools.” The sequence is usually understandable, and the final paragraph communicates the later stages clearly. However, some grammatical errors remain, particularly in sentence construction, agreement, and punctuation. In “the wind pushes the coast upwards,” the grammatical subject does not express the intended process; in “the dry winds then reaches,” the plural subject requires a plural verb. Several sentences also run together without spaces after commas, and “Overall,the process” shows inconsistent punctuation. The overview’s long sentence is difficult to control. Use shorter, clearly punctuated sentences and check subject–verb agreement and clause structure.

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