Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-12

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 displays the process of the formation of a desert called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the rain-shadow desert undergoes seven stages that starts with wind approaching the coast and ends with dry winds reaching inland areas. The distance from the sea and coast to the inland where the rain-shadow desert is formed is approximately thousands of kilometres.

Initially, over the sea, winds approach the coast which are pushed upwards because of the shape of the mountains. There, air increases which is moist and cools before forming clouds. This side of the mountain is depicted as windward side as the winds rise upwards. Afterwards, these clouds cause rainfall over the peak of mountains.

In the following stage, air continues over the mountain which is dry. On the Leeward side of the mountain, these dry winds approach inland areas which ultimately forms the rain-shadow desert, the distance to which is thousands of kilometres from the sea and coast.

AI examiner evaluation

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 highlight the windward and leeward sides and the transition from moist to dry air. However, the description is slightly repetitive, particularly regarding the distance from the sea, which is mentioned twice in a way that does not add significant analytical value. To reach a higher band, ensure that the summary focuses more on the causal relationships between the mountain topography and the precipitation patterns rather than repeating specific details. The overview is clear, but could be more concise.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, moving from an introduction to the process stages. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterwards', and 'In the following stage' are used to guide the reader through the sequence of events. While the progression is generally logical, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is mostly clear, though the repetition of the 'thousands of kilometres' detail disrupts the flow slightly. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to a coherent response.

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 rainfall). However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'air increases which is moist', which is imprecise. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but it lacks the sophistication and precision required for higher bands. Expanding your repertoire to include more precise scientific collocations related to geography and climate would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'stages that starts' (subject-verb agreement) and 'air increases which is moist', which is a clumsy construction. While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a lack of full control over complex structures. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of relative clauses to make your descriptions more fluid and grammatically accurate.

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

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