Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-30

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 picture provides information about the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, this prcoess has included various steps from beginning to end. The procedure of making rain-shadow consists seven stages.

The process initial with the winds that are approaching from the coast of sea. Then winds are pushed upwards and air moisture is rised and air is cooled. That cooled air is converted in to clouds at the peak of mountains.

Moving further at the fifthe step, rain is started to fall from that clouds. The dry air is passed over moutains continuously from leedward side of mounatin. In the next stage, dry winds are reached inland areas which is formed rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, reaching only 113 words. This significantly impacts the development of the task. While the student identifies the main stages of the process, the description is overly simplistic and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the formation of the rain-shadow desert. Key features, such as the specific role of the mountain range as a barrier or the contrast between the windward and leeward sides, are mentioned but not sufficiently elaborated upon to provide a comprehensive summary. To improve, the student should expand on the causal links between the stages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is organized into short paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive (e.g., 'Then', 'Moving further', 'In the next stage'). The logical flow is generally clear, but the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to better connect the scientific concepts. The paragraphing is adequate, but the overall structure feels fragmented due to the brevity of the text. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between the stages would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. There are several spelling errors, such as 'prcoess', 'rised', 'moutains', and 'leedward', which detract from the quality of the writing. The student relies on simple verbs like 'pushed', 'started', and 'reached' rather than more precise scientific terminology appropriate for a process description. To achieve a higher band, the student should focus on using more academic vocabulary related to geography and meteorology, such as 'precipitation', 'condensation', or 'topographical barrier', and ensure accurate spelling throughout the response.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'this prcoess has included' (incorrect tense usage), 'air moisture is rised' (incorrect passive voice/verb form), and 'rain is started to fall' (unnecessary passive construction). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure is often repetitive. To improve, the student needs to work on subject-verb agreement, correct tense usage for describing processes, and the accurate application of passive voice, which is essential for scientific descriptions.

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