Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13

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 figure provided illustrates the formation of a rain shadow desert, from the coast to the rain-shadow desert across thousands of kilometers.

Overall, the processes entail 7 steps, starting from moist-winds reach the coast and the clouds forming in the windward side to end up being the dry winds on a rain-shadow desert areas.

To begin with, a moist-wind from the sea approaches the mountain, and it is forced to push upwards. Due to higher altitude and its expansion, air rises and cools down; thus, those air masses foster the formation of clouds. If the water vapor is dense enough, it will lead to rainfall.

In the leeward side, dry air goes down form the peak of mountain, and continuously flows over the mountain. Ultimately, dry winds from the mountain reach the ground, which fosters dry winds to influence dry weather, and help the inland areas to remain dry and keep their desert environment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, from the initial moist air movement to the final dry conditions. The overview is clear and identifies the key transition points. However, the description of the process is somewhat brief. While the main features are reported, the explanation of the physical mechanisms—such as the specific relationship between altitude, cooling, and precipitation—could be more detailed to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 7 response. The summary is accurate, but it lacks the depth of analysis that would elevate it to a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological sequence of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Due to', and 'Ultimately' are used effectively to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is appropriate, separating the initial moist-air phase from the leeward-side dry-air phase. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the referencing is generally clear, although some transitions could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task, using terms like 'moist-winds', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'water vapor'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'fosters dry winds to influence dry weather', which is slightly repetitive and awkward. While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, it does not demonstrate the level of precision or the use of less common lexical items required for a Band 7 or higher. The language is functional but lacks variety.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that slightly impede the flow, such as 'starting from moist-winds reach the coast' (should be 'starting from when moist winds reach') and 'dry air goes down form the peak' (should be 'from'). Additionally, the phrase 'fosters dry winds to influence dry weather' is grammatically clunky. While the meaning is always clear, the frequency of these minor errors prevents the writing from reaching the Band 7 level, which requires more frequent error-free sentences.

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

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