Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 process of the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the seven steps are involved in this process, which are interlinked with each other. The process starts with the winds and stops when rain-shadow desert is formed. Therefore, the omission of any single step, can halt the entire process.

Firstly, a sea water causes winds to approach coastal areas and the flow of winds pushed in upward direction towards the mountain. Then in the third step, as it goes upward, the air becomes moist and cool. After which clouds formed through the process of precipitation and in the fifth step, rainfall starts.

Moving ahead, after the rain stopped, temperature rises and air becomes dry which is surrounded over the mountain, followed by the dry winds which reached the inland areas. Finally, the rain-shadow desert is formed which was thousands of kilometres below the earth near the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response provides a clear overview of the process, identifying the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation. You have successfully selected the key features as requested. However, the description of the process is somewhat simplistic and lacks the precision required for a higher band. For example, the statement that the process 'stops when rain-shadow desert is formed' is a bit vague, and the mention of 'thousands of kilometres below the earth' is factually confusing in the context of the diagram. To improve, focus on describing the physical mechanisms (e.g., adiabatic cooling, orographic lift) more accurately based on the visual information provided.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You have used transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Moving ahead', and 'Finally' to guide the reader through the stages. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the paragraphing could be more balanced. The second paragraph is quite long compared to the others. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as the use of 'which' in 'which was thousands of kilometres below the earth', which creates a slightly disjointed flow. Improving the variety of cohesive devices would enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, including terms like 'precipitation', 'coastal areas', and 'inland'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For instance, 'sea water causes winds' is not the most natural way to describe the interaction between air masses and the ocean. Furthermore, 'surrounded over the mountain' is an awkward phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to weather patterns and geography, and ensure that your collocations are natural and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'a sea water causes winds' (article usage), 'clouds formed' (missing auxiliary verb 'are'), and 'the rain stopped' (tense inconsistency). Additionally, there are issues with prepositional phrases and sentence construction, such as 'which is surrounded over the mountain'. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and consistent tense usage.

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

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