Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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 stages involved in the formation of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the process follows a linear, multi-stage sequence that begins with winds from sea, which approach coastal area, and ends with dry winds reaching inland areas to form a rain-shadow desert. During these stages, the air pushed upwards, cooled, formed clouds, and after being transformed into rain falls, continues over mountain.

In the initial stages, winds, which come from the sea, approach the coastal area, then pushed upwards to be cooled at the next juncture. Once the winds have been cooled and most air risen, it begins to form clouds, which will be converted into rain falls. All of these stages have been implemented on the Windward side.

Afterwards, dry air continues over mountain on the Leeward side, and goes down. After the foot of the mountain has been reached by dry winds, they start to form a rain-shadow desert. The total distance that has been covered is thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly distinguished between the Windward and Leeward sides, which is essential for this task. However, the description of the process is slightly repetitive in the second and third paragraphs, and some details, such as the 'thousands of kilometres' mention, lack context from the diagram. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the cooling air and the resulting precipitation is described with more precision, and avoid over-simplifying the movement of air masses.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, a body paragraph for the Windward side, and a final paragraph for the Leeward side. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stages', 'Afterwards', and 'Once' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the cooling of air and the formation of clouds is a bit abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the distinct stages of the process.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used some relevant technical vocabulary such as 'Windward', 'Leeward', and 'rain-shadow'. However, the range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and occasionally repetitive. Phrases like 'rain falls' and 'approached coastal area' are slightly unnatural. There is an attempt to use more sophisticated language, but it is not always precise. To improve, focus on using more varied verbs and nouns related to meteorological processes, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitate', or 'descend'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the' is missing before 'mountain' or 'coastal area') and verb forms ('air pushed upwards' should be 'air is pushed upwards'). Passive voice is used, which is appropriate for a process description, but the control is inconsistent. Frequent minor errors in grammar and punctuation prevent the response from reaching a higher band.

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

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