Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04

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 formation of one type of desert described as a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the process begins with the movement of winds towards the coast and ends at the approaching of dry winds in inland areas. The whole process consists of 7 stages.

In the initial stage, the hot winds move from sea towards coast and push in an upwading direction in order to reach the windward side. Winds move in an upper direction as a mountain in front of them creates a path for winds. At the windward side, moist air rises and cools the hot coastal winds. By the cooling of the air, the process creates the formation of clouds.

After the formation of clouds, rain falls on the mountain, and dry air continues to move on the other side of the mountain to reach the leeward side, which is located on the opposite side of the windward side. The dry winds then reach the inland areas to create the rain-shadow desert. The distance between the coast and the desert is around thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly outlined the progression from the movement of moist air to the creation of the rain-shadow effect. The overview is functional, though it could be improved by focusing more on the contrast between the windward and leeward sides rather than just listing the number of stages. The description of the process is accurate and covers all key stages shown in the diagram, such as the cooling of air, cloud formation, and the resulting dry conditions on the leeward side. To reach a higher band, ensure that the comparison between the two sides of the mountain is more explicitly highlighted.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding summary. The progression of ideas is easy to follow, moving chronologically through the stages of the process. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'In the initial stage' and 'After the formation of clouds,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly repetitive or mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, separating the introduction from the detailed process description. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that referencing between sentences is smoother to avoid a slightly disjointed feel in the middle paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'windward side,' 'leeward side,' and 'moist air' correctly. However, there are some instances of awkward phrasing or word choice, such as 'upwading direction' (likely a misspelling of 'upward') and 'upper direction.' These errors do not impede communication, but they limit the precision of your writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise scientific or descriptive terminology related to weather patterns and geography, and ensure that your collocations are natural. Expanding your range of synonyms will also help improve the overall flow.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical inaccuracies. For example, 'push in an upwading direction' is awkward, and 'By the cooling of the air' is not the most natural way to express cause. There are also minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding the process, they occur frequently enough to keep the score in the 6.0 range. Focusing on sentence variety and ensuring subject-verb agreement will help improve your accuracy.

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.