Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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 illustrates the formation of Rain-shadow desert at the distance of thousand of kilometers from costal area in between the wind passes through several phases of environment and becomes valuable to rain shadow desert.

Overall, the linear cycle consists of total seven stages for the production of the rain shadow desert. While, mountains plays major role for the temprature control.

Analyzing the the pictorial representation, costal area which have mountains besides it helps the formation of such desert. Initially, when winds from the sea level strikes to the nearest mountains gets pushed upwards due the sloppy edge of hills. Thereafter, moist air gets cool down as it rises to the peak. Thus, it gradually generates dense clouds filled with water due to the moist air.

Turning to further phases, the rainfall occur at the top of the mountain and dry air gets sepreated from the clouds. Furthermore, air follows the leenward edge of the mountain and continues to flow lower levels of the mountain as it will be higher in density and can not flow on the higher range of sky . Finally , this air generates the rain shadow deserts beyond the mountains passing through it along with covering several thousands kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a clear overview of the process, identifying the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation. You successfully highlight the role of mountains and the transition from moist air to dry air. However, the description of the process is slightly imprecise in places; for example, the claim that the cycle covers 'thousands of kilometers' is not clearly supported by the diagram. While the main features are reported, the explanation of the physical mechanism could be more precise to fully meet the requirements of a Band 7. The summary is generally accurate, but some details regarding the specific stages could be more clearly linked to the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of the process. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Thereafter', 'Turning to further phases', and 'Finally' to signal the stages. However, the use of some linking words is slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'in between the wind passes through'. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression could be smoother to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'pictorial representation', 'coastal area', and 'leeward edge'. However, there are several spelling errors ('costal', 'temprature', 'sepreated', 'leenward') and some word choice issues, such as 'valuable to rain shadow desert' and 'sloppy edge of hills'. These errors do not impede communication, but they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a wider range of precise, academic vocabulary to reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the the pictorial'), subject-verb agreement ('mountains plays'), and preposition usage. Some sentences are also structurally awkward, such as 'strikes to the nearest mountains gets pushed upwards'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors suggests that your control over complex structures is not yet consistent enough for a higher band.

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

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