Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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 depicts the formation of a rain-shadow desert.
Overall, the formation of rain-shadow is due to the blockage of winds by huge mountains so one side receives rainfall but the other side experiences dry air. The air travels thousands of kilometers before reaching the other side of mountain creating a rain-shadow desert.
The are seven steps of the entire journey. It starts when the winds blow from the coast and are pushed upward because of the mountain it then continues towards the top of mountain. The air becomes humid and cold as it goes up toward the windward side. Clouds are formed as the air keeps rising till it reached peak and pours down in from of rain.
After raining the air become dry which continue its journey down through the mountain on the leeward side. This dry air travels thousands of kilometers finally reaching the other side of mountain, the inland areas receive dry air which gives rise to rain-shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. You successfully contrast the windward and leeward sides, which is essential for this task. However, the description is slightly repetitive, particularly regarding the air's journey. To improve, ensure you clearly distinguish between the 'windward' and 'leeward' processes with more precise terminology. While you mention the seven steps, the explanation of the transition from humid air to dry air could be more analytical. Overall, you have provided a clear summary of the process, meeting the requirements of the task effectively.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'It starts when', and 'After raining', which help the reader follow the sequence of events. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical. For instance, the transition between the description of the windward side and the leeward side could be smoother. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'the mountain' used repeatedly without specifying which side or feature is being referenced. Improving the variety of linking words would enhance the overall cohesion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'humid', 'leeward', 'windward', and 'rain-shadow'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'pours down in from of rain' (should be 'in the form of') and 'the formation of rain-shadow is due to' (should be 'the formation of a rain-shadow desert'). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the score. To reach a higher band, focus on more precise collocations and ensure that technical terms are used within grammatically correct structures.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'The are seven steps' (should be 'There are'), 'till it reached peak' (should be 'reaches its peak'), and 'air become dry' (should be 'air becomes dry'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with missing commas in complex sentences. While the meaning remains clear, the frequency of these errors prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage, as the process should be described using the present simple tense throughout.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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