Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18

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 sketch shows the formation of a specific type of desert which is called rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process of composition of rain-shadow desert consist of series of 7 steps. Commencing from winds approach coast of sea and terminating dry winds reach inland areas of desert.

First of all, the winds approach the coast of sea, then winds pushed upwards on mountain. Most air rises and cools at mid length mountain, clouds also form at top of mountain on windward side.

The rain falls at the peak of mountain because of same clouds.

After that, dry air continues over the mountain by leeward side. Finally, dry winds land on island areas. These dry air create the rain-shadow desert because there is no moisture in that air and there will be no rain in that area. Distance between coast and desert is about thousands kilometers.

In conclusion, construction of deserts without rain is combination of air getting moist and cool on one side of mountain and getting dry and causing no rain on other side of same mountain range.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. You successfully highlight the transition from moist air on the windward side to dry air on the leeward side. However, the description is somewhat simplistic. For instance, referring to the process as a 'series of 7 steps' is a bit mechanical and does not fully capture the continuous nature of the meteorological process. To reach a higher band, ensure you provide more precise detail regarding the specific conditions at each stage, such as the cooling of air as it gains altitude, rather than just stating it 'cools at mid length'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'After that', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally repetitive, and some transitions feel mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the paragraphing could be more sophisticated by grouping the windward and leeward processes more distinctly. Improving the variety of linking words and phrases would help the text flow more naturally and improve the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'composition of', 'winds approach', and 'land on'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'composition of rain-shadow desert' (which should be 'formation') and 'mid length mountain'. To improve, try to incorporate more specific geographical and scientific terminology, such as 'prevailing winds', 'orographic lift', 'precipitation', and 'leeward/windward slopes'. Expanding your range of descriptive adjectives and verbs will make your writing more professional and precise.

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 frequent grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the coast of sea' should be 'the coast of the sea') and pluralization/subject-verb agreement ('winds approach' vs 'wind approaches'). Some sentences are slightly fragmented or lack necessary prepositions. To improve, focus on mastering the use of articles and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Reviewing basic sentence structure and subject-verb agreement will help reduce these persistent errors.

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

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