Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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)

This diagram illustrates the process that explains the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the whole process consist of 7 different steps. It begins from winds approaching the cost to being pushed upwards and divided into two parts. As a result of partition of winds, one part results in rain falls while the other cross the mountain and eventually reach the inland areas and result in formation of rain- shadow desert.

To begin with, winds approach the cost from the surface of the sea and being pushed upwards. After that, air partitions into moist and dry air. The moist air cools down, rises along the windward side of the mountains and form clouds which result in rain. On the other hand, the dry air continues over the mountain along the Leeward side and as a result reach the inland areas. All the dry winds gather in the inward areas and consequently, becomes rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram, including the movement of wind, the cooling process, and the resulting rain-shadow effect. The overview is clear, though it could be more descriptive by mentioning the mountain as the central feature. The description of the process is accurate, but some parts are slightly repetitive, such as the mention of 'inland areas' and 'inward areas'. To reach a higher band, ensure that the relationship between the windward and leeward sides is more explicitly linked to the moisture levels throughout the entire process.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and a body paragraph detailing the process. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'After that', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, the paragraphing is slightly unbalanced, as the second paragraph is quite long compared to the overview. Additionally, some transitions feel a bit mechanical. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied referencing would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, with terms like 'moist', 'dry air', 'windward', and 'leeward' used correctly. However, there are some minor inaccuracies and spelling errors, such as 'cost' instead of 'coast' and 'inward' instead of 'inland'. The range is sufficient to describe the process, but it lacks the sophistication or precision that would characterize a higher band. Using more precise verbs and avoiding repetitive phrasing would strengthen this area.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('process consist', 'winds... becomes') and missing articles ('the formation of rain-shadow desert'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student should focus on proofreading for basic errors like pluralization and verb tense consistency to improve accuracy.

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

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