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 given diagram visualizes the step-by-step process for formation of the rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the formation process is consists of 7 key steps. Starting from, when winds from the sea approach the coast followed by 5 major steps, when at last the dry winds from the mountain meets the inland areas, a rain-shadow desert is formed.

The process of formation of rain-shadow deserts starts when winds from the sea approach the sea coast. The winds hit the mountain and are eventually pushed upwards, where the moist air rises up and cools along the windward side. This phenomenon leads to the formation of clouds.

After the formation of the clouds, it starts to rain over the mountain. Following that, dry air continues to flow downwards the mountain along the Leeward side. Lastly, dry winds meet the inland areas, that leads to the formation of a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but it fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which negatively impacts the score. While the overview is present, the description of the process is somewhat brief and lacks the depth required for a higher band. The student identifies the key steps but does not provide enough detail or comparison to fully develop the response. To improve, ensure that all stages are described with more descriptive language and that the response meets the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive summary of the provided diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'Starting from', 'Following that', and 'Lastly' helps to guide the reader through the process. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, and some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the brevity of the text limits the ability to demonstrate more sophisticated cohesive techniques. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring a more balanced structure would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, with terms like 'visualizes', 'phenomenon', and 'leeward side' being used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is some repetition of basic verbs like 'starts' and 'leads to'. There are no significant spelling errors, but the vocabulary lacks the variety and precision needed for a higher band. Incorporating more specific terminology related to meteorological processes and varying the verbs used to describe movement or change would help to elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'the formation process is consists of' (should be 'consists of') and 'downwards the mountain' (should be 'down the mountain'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates an attempt at complex structures, but these are not always executed with full accuracy. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage will help improve the grammatical accuracy.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.