Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08

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 by which rain shadow desert is formed.

From the first glimpse of the chart, it is abundantly clear that the winds from the sea approaches the coast and are forced upwards when they reach the mountains. As the moist air rises along the windward side, it becomes cooler. Consequently, clouds begin to form above the mountains.

Moving further, rain falls from the clouds on the windward side of the mountains. After crossing the peak, the air becomes dry and continues towards the leeward side. Finally, the dry winds become descend and reach the inland area, where a rain shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the formation of a rain shadow desert involve seven stages. The beginning with wind approaching the coast and ending with dry wind reaching the inland area. Rainfall occurs on the windward side of the mountains while leeward side remains dry, resulting in rain shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly described the movement of air from the sea, the cooling effect over the mountains, the resulting precipitation, and the final dry conditions on the leeward side. The inclusion of an overview paragraph is a positive feature that helps summarize the process. However, the description of the stages is slightly simplistic. To reach a higher band, you could provide more detail on the physical properties of the air at each stage, such as the contrast between 'moist' and 'dry' air, and ensure the comparison between the windward and leeward sides is more explicitly linked to the diagram's visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear progression from the initial wind movement to the final formation of the desert. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the stages of the process. You use cohesive devices such as 'Consequently', 'Moving further', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the sequence. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the final paragraph contains a minor grammatical error in the sentence structure ('The beginning with...'), which slightly disrupts the flow. Overall, the information is easy to follow, and the structure is appropriate for a process description.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moist', and 'precipitation' (implied by 'rain falls'). The language is generally accurate and appropriate for a scientific process description. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations. For example, instead of 'winds from the sea approaches', you could use 'prevailing winds from the ocean'. Additionally, avoid repetitive phrasing; the word 'side' is used frequently. Expanding your vocabulary to include synonyms or more descriptive verbs would enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips that prevent a higher score. For instance, 'winds from the sea approaches' contains a subject-verb agreement error, and 'the dry winds become descend' is grammatically incorrect (it should be 'begin to descend'). Furthermore, the sentence 'The beginning with wind approaching...' is a fragment. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and ensuring every sentence has a clear main verb will significantly improve your accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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