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 stages involved in the natural process of formation of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process consists of seven main stages, starting with the winds approaching the coast from the sea. The process terminates in the dry winds reach inland areas which form the rain-shadow desert.

In the first stage of the process, winds approaching the coast from the sea. Then they move in an upward direction. As a result of this, moist air rises and cools the vapor. Following this, it cools the vapor and forms clouds. Clouds undergo a transformation and release precipitation onto the mountain over a period of time.

In the subsequent stage of the process, the leeward side forms as dry air continues onto the mountain. Finally, dry winds reach the inland areas and they form a rain-shadow desert. Additionally, the distance from the coast to inland is estimated to be thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, from the initial wind movement to the formation of the rain-shadow desert. However, the description is somewhat superficial. For example, the text mentions 'winds approaching the coast' and 'moist air rises', but it fails to clearly describe the interaction between the air and the mountain range, which is central to the diagram. The inclusion of 'thousands of kilometers' is a specific detail, but the overall summary lacks the analytical depth required for a higher band. The response addresses the task requirements but could be more precise in explaining the causal links between the stages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from the start to the end 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, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'Following this, it cools the vapor', where the pronoun 'it' lacks a clear antecedent. Overall, the structure is coherent, but the flow could be improved with more varied linking phrases.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'precipitation', 'transformation', and 'leeward side'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. Some word choices are slightly awkward, such as 'The process terminates in the dry winds reach', which is grammatically incorrect and lexically imprecise. To reach a higher band, you should aim to use more precise terminology related to meteorological processes and avoid repetitive sentence structures. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning but lacks the sophistication expected at higher levels.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For instance, 'In the first stage of the process, winds approaching the coast from the sea' is a sentence fragment missing a main verb. Another error occurs in 'The process terminates in the dry winds reach', where the prepositional phrase is incorrectly constructed. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur frequently enough to lower the score. Greater attention to subject-verb agreement and sentence completeness is needed to demonstrate better control over complex structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.