Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27

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 natural process of the formulation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, starting with the winds approaching the coast from the sea and terminating in the dry winds reaching the inland areas and forming the rain shadow desert.

In the first stage, winds approach the coast from the sea and then winds are upward direction. As a result of this, moist air rises and cools to form the clouds. Following this, the clouds undergo a transformation and grow into the rainfall over a period of time.

In the subsequent stage, the leeward side is formed as rain falls from the clouds onto the mountains. Dry air continues over the mountain. Once this phase is completed then winds reach the inland areas and inside inland it forms a rain shadow desert. In addition, the total distance from the coast to the rain shadow is estimated to be thousands of kilometers. Ultimately this lack of rainfall form the 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, identifying the key elements such as wind movement, cloud formation, and the leeward side effect. However, the description is somewhat mechanical and lacks a deeper analysis of the relationship between the stages. While the prompt asks to make comparisons, the response misses opportunities to contrast the windward side with the leeward side more effectively. The mention of 'thousands of kilometers' is a good inclusion of data from the diagram, but the overall explanation of the process could be more precise to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction/overview from the body of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the first stage', 'Following this', and 'In the subsequent stage' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit repetitive or mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using more varied linking phrases to create a more natural progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'formulation', 'transformation', 'leeward', and 'inland' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic verbs like 'form' and 'reach'. To improve, you should aim to incorporate more precise scientific or descriptive vocabulary related to meteorological processes, such as 'moisture-laden', 'precipitation', 'orographic lift', or 'arid'. The word choice is generally accurate, but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical inaccuracies, such as 'winds are upward direction' (should be 'winds move in an upward direction') and 'inside inland it forms' (which is redundant). Additionally, 'this lack of rainfall form the rain-shadow desert' contains a subject-verb agreement error ('forms'). While these errors do not impede communication, they indicate a need for more careful proofreading and a greater variety of complex grammatical structures to demonstrate higher control.

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

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