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 illustration gives information about the particular desert in which how many processes are involved in formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, there are seven different process are involved which starts from the sea and ends on inland.

It is quite evident from the diagram that initially winds approach coast in the sea then winds pushed upwards towards the mountains. In third step, moist air rises and cools are formed in windward side level. Following clouds form are made.

Furthermore, in fifth step rain falls is occured after the cloud forms on the top of mountains which results in dry air continues over the mountain. When started moving down from the other side of the mountains there was leeward side on the opposite of windward side. Finally, in last step dry winds reach inland areas where rain-shadow desert are made. In addition, the process from the coast to rain-shadow desert are thousands of kilometres away from each other.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and you identify the rain-shadow desert as the outcome. The overview that the process begins at the sea and ends inland is relevant, while the reference to thousands of kilometres reflects the diagram’s scale. However, some stages are not clearly or accurately explained: “moist air rises and cools are formed in windward side level” does not make the relationship between cooling and cloud formation clear, and the role of the mountain in causing rain on the windward side could be stated more directly. To strengthen the summary, explain the key contrast: moist air rises and produces rain on the windward side, while dry air descends beyond the mountain and reaches the inland desert.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall sequence, supported by “initially,” “in third step,” “Furthermore,” and “Finally.” The opening overview also helps the reader understand the process as a whole. However, the numbered transitions sometimes make the account feel mechanical, and a few links between stages are unclear. For example, “Following clouds form are made” is difficult to connect smoothly to the preceding sentence, while “When started moving down” does not clearly identify the dry air as the subject. Organise the stages into a more connected description, using cause-and-effect links such as “as a result” and clear references such as “this dry air.” This would make the progression easier to follow without relying so heavily on step labels.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use relevant process vocabulary, including “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist air,” “dry winds,” and “rain-shadow desert,” which gives the description an adequate range for this diagram. Some choices, however, are inaccurate or awkward in context: “processes are involved in formation” and “rain falls is occured” do not express the ideas naturally, and “are made” is an imprecise way to describe the desert’s formation. Aim for more precise process verbs and natural collocations, such as “forms,” “produces,” “moves,” and “descends.” The technical terms are a strength; using them within more accurate phrases would make the account clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sequence linked with “which results in” and a time clause beginning “When.” However, some grammatical errors make relationships between stages unclear. For example, “there are seven different process are involved” combines incompatible structures and has a plural-agreement problem; “moist air rises and cools are formed” also lacks a clear grammatical subject for the second verb. There are further issues with articles and verb forms in “rain falls is occured” and “rain-shadow desert are made.” Practise building each sentence around a clear subject and verb, and check agreement and tense. More accurate control of these structures would allow your process description to be understood more easily.

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