Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-14

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 figure illustrates the formation of rain-shadow desert with the help of sea wind, mountains and inland.

Overall, sea wind rises over the mountains to make the clouds, it comes down in the form of rain, while dry air countinues over the mountains and reach the inland areas to form a rain-shadow desert.

First of all, sea air reaches the coast and it is pushed upward, while moist air rises and temperature comes down to form clouds. Afterwards, the clouds comes down in the form of rain and dry air keep moving over the mountains in the leeward side. Finally, the dry wind reaches the inland areas to form a rain-shadow desert. This whole process is spread over a large area of thousand kilometers as shown in the map. In other words, the distance from sea coast to inland area to make a rain-shadow desert is approximately thousand of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You identify the main sequence and give an overview: moist air rises over the mountains, rain falls on the windward side, and dry air continues inland to create the desert. These are the central features of the diagram, and the reference to the long distance is also grounded in the visual. However, some stages are not described precisely. In particular, “clouds comes down in the form of rain” misrepresents the process: rain falls from clouds, while the air continues over the mountain. The overview also says “sea wind rises,” which blurs the distinction between the approaching wind and the moist air that rises and cools. Clarifying these stages and the windward/leeward contrast 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 a chronological account introduced by “First of all,” “Afterwards,” and “Finally.” This makes the process easy to follow. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and some references are unclear. For example, “it comes down” does not clearly identify whether “it” means the wind, air, or clouds; this also contributes to confusion about the sequence. The final two sentences repeat the idea that the process covers thousands of kilometres, rather than adding a distinct stage or comparison. Use more precise references and connect each stage directly to the next, while avoiding repetition, to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “moist air,” “leeward side,” “inland areas,” and “rain-shadow desert,” and the reader can generally understand the account. There are, however, some inaccurate or awkward choices. “Sea wind” is less precise than “moist onshore winds,” while “temperature comes down” would be more naturally expressed as “the air cools.” The phrase “clouds comes down in the form of rain” also uses an imprecise collocation, and “thousand kilometers” is awkwardly phrased in the final sentence. Spelling errors such as “countinues” further reduce accuracy. More precise process terms and careful proofreading would strengthen the description.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses linked with “while” and “as,” and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain. Subject–verb agreement is incorrect in “the clouds comes down” and “dry air keep moving”; these should be “clouds come down” and “dry air keeps moving.” The sentence “sea wind rises over the mountains to make the clouds” also has an unclear pronoun in “it comes down,” and the relationship between the clauses is difficult to follow. In “the distance from sea coast to inland area,” articles and plural forms are missing or awkward. Aim for accurate agreement and clearer sentence structures, especially when describing several stages in one sentence.

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