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 stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, identifying the windward and leeward sides and the role of mountains. However, the description is somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding the distance from the sea, which is mentioned twice without adding new information. The explanation of the process could be more precise; for instance, the term 'air increases' is vague and does not accurately describe the cooling and condensation process. While the main features are reported, the development of the explanation lacks the technical precision expected for a high-band response, resulting in a somewhat superficial summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs that follow the chronological stages of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Afterwards', and 'In the following stage' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, the referencing is occasionally mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the stages of the process, which helps the reader navigate the information. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, though the cohesion is not always sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moist', and 'condensation' (implied). However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'air increases', which is not a standard collocation in this context. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, and the repetition of phrases like 'distance from the sea and coast' suggests a lack of lexical flexibility. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise scientific terminology and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While there are some error-free sentences, there are also grammatical slips, such as 'stages that starts' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'air continues over the mountain which is dry' (misplaced modifier). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction occasionally feels slightly awkward. The grammatical control is sufficient to communicate the meaning clearly, but the lack of a wider range of complex structures and the presence of minor errors prevent a higher score in this criterion.

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

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