Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17

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 exhibits the process of the formation of a desert, namely a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the mountains play a pivotal role in the formation of this rain-shadow desert due to its cold weather at the summit. The winds initially approach the coast from the sea and gradually moves upward towards the mountain and form clouds. Additionally, the rain from these clouds brings the dry air to the land to the desert.

To be specific, winds from the sea first approach the coast and then are pushed upwards along the Windward side. Thereafter, the moist air rises and cools to form clouds. Subsequently, this clouds are saturated with water and cause rainfall at the top of the mountains. After that, dry air continues to flow along the Leeward side. Moreover, the sea and the desert are far more distant of approximately thousands of kilometers. Eventually, this air reach the inland area and continues its path. For such rain and dry wind around the desert, it is named as Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, including the movement of air from the sea, the cooling process, and the resulting precipitation and dry air. The overview is clear and identifies the key role of the mountains. However, the description of the process is slightly repetitive, and some details, such as the mention of 'thousands of kilometers', are not clearly supported by the provided diagram, which could lead to a slight over-generalization. Overall, the main features are highlighted, and the response fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a detailed body paragraph. The use of cohesive devices such as 'To be specific', 'Thereafter', 'Subsequently', and 'Eventually' helps to guide the reader through the process. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the final paragraph ('this air reach') is grammatically inconsistent, which slightly disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the summary from the detailed process description.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more precise terminology like 'pivotal role', 'saturated', and 'windward/leeward side'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'distant of approximately' instead of 'distance of approximately' and 'this clouds' (plural/singular mismatch). While the range is sufficient to convey the meaning, it lacks the flexibility and precision required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('this clouds are', 'this air reach') and minor prepositional errors. These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates an ability to use complex sentences, but control over these structures needs improvement to ensure accuracy.

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

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