Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-14

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 demonstrates the process of one well known desert namely a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the whole process covers the thousand of kilometres area including the mountains to the desert. There are total seven stages which starts from the coast sides and ends on the inland.

On the first stage, the heavy winds approaches the coastal area and directly hit the windward side of mountains but the sea pushed these winds into the upward direction in the second stage. Next, these winds come into the contact of the moist air and frizz it on low temperature where it turns into the form of clouds and rain falls on the windward side in the following stages.

Furthermore, the dry air passes over the mountains and turn into the leeward side in the sixth stage. On the last step, that dry air comes in the touch of the inland where the shadow of rainfall could be seen.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the progression from the coast to the inland desert. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For instance, the explanation of the process—specifically the transition from moist air to rain—is slightly inaccurate and lacks technical precision regarding the cooling and condensation process. While the main stages are identified, the response would benefit from a more detailed analysis of the atmospheric changes depicted in the diagram, such as the distinction between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain range. The overview is present but could be more effectively integrated to highlight the core mechanism of the rain-shadow effect.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'On the first stage', 'Next', 'Furthermore', and 'On the last step' are used to sequence the information. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear; for example, the phrase 'frizz it on low temperature' is confusing and disrupts the flow of the explanation. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one would enhance the overall coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision required for a higher band score. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'frizz it' (likely intended to be 'freeze' or 'condense') and 'comes in the touch of', which are not standard collocations. While the student uses some relevant terms like 'windward', 'leeward', and 'coastal area', the overall range is limited. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise scientific terminology related to weather processes and avoid non-standard phrasing that hinders clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede understanding. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('winds approaches', 'it turn into'), incorrect pluralization ('thousand of kilometres area'), and awkward phrasing ('the sea pushed these winds into the upward direction'). While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over complex structures. Focusing on basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb tense consistency and subject-verb agreement, would significantly improve the quality of the writing.

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