Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23

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 process diagram illustrates the steps through which a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, we can see that there are 7 steps involved in this process and it is stretched over thousands of kilometres. The moist air coming from the seaside hits a mountain. Rain falls on the windward side and the dry air moves toward the leeward side.

Wind approaches the seashore. Where it meets a mountain, it is forced to move upwards. As it moves upward the moist air starts cooling. As the air has vapours cloud formation starts and after a certain height rain falls. These vapours coming from the seaside are full of minerals. That's why this area does not form a desert.

After that air, without the vapours and minerals, starts moving downhill on the leeward side. Moving forwards it reaches the inland areas where rain-shadow deserts are located. It is known as a rain-shadow desert because this desert is located just in the shadow of an area where a lot of rain occurs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have successfully identified the key movement of air from the sea, the cooling process, and the resulting precipitation on the windward side, followed by the dry air descent on the leeward side. However, the description is slightly informal in places, such as the mention of 'minerals' which is not explicitly supported by the diagram provided. To reach a higher band, ensure that all information is strictly derived from the visual data provided and avoid adding external assumptions. The overview is clear, but could be more integrated with the specific geographical features shown in the diagram.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs that follow the chronological flow of the process. You use some cohesive devices like 'After that' and 'Moving forwards' to guide the reader. However, the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is a bit abrupt. The use of referencing could be more sophisticated; for instance, instead of repeating 'the air' or 'this desert', you could use more varied cohesive ties to link ideas more fluidly. Paragraphing is present, but the logical progression within the paragraphs could be tightened to ensure a smoother flow of information.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You have used a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the process, such as 'moist air', 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'precipitation' (implied). There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'vapours' instead of 'water vapour' or 'moisture', and the claim about 'minerals' is not standard terminology for this process. The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but to achieve a higher band, you should aim for more precise scientific terminology and avoid slightly awkward phrasing like 'stretched over thousands of kilometres', which is not clearly indicated by the diagram.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'As the air has vapours cloud formation starts', which lacks necessary punctuation and articles. Another example is 'That's why this area does not form a desert', where 'That is' would be more appropriate for an academic report. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. You should focus on improving your control over complex sentence structures and ensuring consistent use of articles and punctuation.

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

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