Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-03

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 given diagram summarises the information on the formation of a rain-shadow desert, which is thousands of km long. Evidently, this process has seven major stages.

To commence with, the coast is approached by the wind from the sea, and then it is pushed upward over the mountain. Following this, the moist air rises and cools down. As a result of it, clouds are formed on the windward side. Afterwards, it leads to rainfall.

Moving ahead, dry air continues to constantly go down from the mountain on the leeward side. In the final step, dry wind reaches the inland areas and results in a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, this is the systematic process showing the formation of a rain-shadow desert through various stages, starting from wind approaching the coast to dry wind reaching the inland area.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 150 words, which significantly impacts the task achievement score. While you have identified the main stages of the process, the description is quite brief and lacks the necessary detail to fully explain the formation of the rain-shadow desert. For instance, the transition from 'moist air' to 'rainfall' is mentioned, but the specific environmental conditions or the contrast between the windward and leeward sides could have been expanded upon to provide a more comprehensive report. To improve, ensure you provide a more detailed analysis of the stages shown in the diagram to meet the length requirement and demonstrate a deeper understanding of the process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Following this', and 'Moving ahead' to guide the reader through the stages. However, the progression is somewhat mechanical, and the paragraphing is a bit fragmented due to the short length of the response. To reach a higher band, try to integrate your sentences more fluidly and use a wider variety of cohesive markers to connect the stages of the process more naturally, rather than relying on a simple list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, using terms like 'windward side', 'leeward side', and 'moist air' correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simple phrasing. For example, 'Moving ahead' and 'go down' are quite informal and basic. To improve, aim to incorporate more precise academic vocabulary related to geographical processes, such as 'precipitate', 'descend', or 'arid conditions'. Expanding your range of collocations will help you convey information with greater precision and sophistication, which is essential for higher band scores in Academic Task 1.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally accurate and communication is not impeded, the range of structures is limited. You rely heavily on passive voice constructions, such as 'is approached' and 'are formed', which is appropriate for a process description, but the lack of more complex, varied sentence patterns keeps the score in the mid-range. To improve, try to incorporate more varied sentence beginnings and perhaps some complex sentences that show cause-and-effect relationships more clearly, while maintaining the current level of grammatical accuracy.

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

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