Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-28
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 formation of one of the type called rain-shadow desert. Looking at the overall data, it is readily apparent that the rain-shadow desert mostly occur due to huge mountains situated near the coastal regions. The process takes place in 7 stages, starting from winds approaching coast to ending with dry winds reaching inland areas forming rain-shadow desert.
In the initial stage, the moisture carrying wind approach towards the coast from the seas or oceans.
When these winds reaches to the coast, it is obstructed and pushed upwards along the mountain's slope, situated nearby the coastal areas. In the third stage, as the moist air flows towards the windward direction, reaching high altitude. Which ultimately results in cooling of the air and further formation of Clouds.
The clouds formed gets heavier as it flows upwards, lowering the temperature of the clouds. In the 5th stage, the clouds starts raining in the windwards side of the mountain before reaching the high altitude to pass the mountains of thousands kilometers. Furthermore, the dry air is formed as the rainfall is completed and continues flowing over the mountains. As a result the inland area to the leeward side of the mountains only the remaining dry winds, forming the rain-shadow desert.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response covers all key stages of the process, from the initial moisture-laden winds to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. The overview is clear and identifies the main features effectively. However, the description of the stages is slightly repetitive, and the explanation of the 'leeward' side could be more precise. The student successfully identifies the causal relationship between mountain height, cloud formation, and the resulting dry climate. To reach a higher band, ensure that the transition between stages is more fluid and avoid minor inaccuracies, such as the mention of 'thousands kilometers', which is not supported by the diagram.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into an introduction and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'Furthermore', and 'As a result' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'Which' at the start of a sentence fragment in the second paragraph. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction from the detailed process description, contributing to a clear overall progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some subject-specific terms used correctly, such as 'moisture carrying wind', 'windward', and 'leeward'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'huge mountains' (better: 'mountain ranges') and 'clouds formed gets heavier' (subject-verb agreement error). The range is sufficient to convey the process, but more sophisticated vocabulary related to meteorological processes would elevate the score. Spelling is generally accurate, but the phrasing is occasionally repetitive.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('winds reaches', 'clouds starts') and sentence fragments ('Which ultimately results in...'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the misuse of commas and sentence boundaries occasionally interrupts the flow. A wider range of error-free complex structures would be required for a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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