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 diagram illustrates the process of formation of the rain shadow desert.

Overall, the process involves 7 steps, and the mountains are the primary cause for the formation of rain shadow desert as they prevent rain clouds to reach the desert.

When winds pass over a sea, they absorb moisture into them. As the winds approach coast, the altitude increases which pushes the winds upwards. The moisture rich winds travel long distances, often in the range of thousands before reaching the desert. During this journey, as winds are pushed upwards, they cool and start forming clouds.

As the clouds approach a mountain, the temperature decreases. This cooling effect causes the clouds to lose the moisture in form of rain. By the time winds reach desert, they have lost all the moisture from the sea. As a result dry winds pass over the desert which does not get rainfall. This type of desert is known as the rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram well, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. You successfully highlight the role of moisture-rich winds, the impact of altitude, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. However, the description of the process is slightly simplified; for instance, mentioning '7 steps' is not explicitly supported by the visual data, which is more of a continuous process. To reach a higher band, ensure that your summary focuses strictly on the information provided in the diagram rather than adding external interpretations or arbitrary numbering. Overall, the main features are clearly reported and the comparison between the windward and leeward sides is logical.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas follows the natural sequence of the weather pattern depicted. You use some cohesive devices such as 'As the winds approach,' 'During this journey,' and 'As a result' to link sentences effectively. However, the flow could be improved by using a wider variety of cohesive markers to connect the stages more fluidly. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the overview from the detailed process description, which helps the reader navigate the information easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for a process description, using terms like 'moisture,' 'altitude,' 'leeward,' and 'cooling effect.' While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it lacks the more sophisticated, academic collocations that would elevate the response to a higher band. There are some minor issues with word choice, such as 'absorb moisture into them' (which is slightly redundant) and 'in form of rain' (missing an article). Expanding your range to include more precise scientific terminology would improve the overall quality of the lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and easy to follow. However, there are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the desert which does not get rainfall' (which should be 'the desert, which does not receive rainfall') and 'in form of rain' (should be 'in the form of rain'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage, such as 'the rain shadow desert' (often used without 'the' when referring to the phenomenon generally). Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the grammar is generally controlled.

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