Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07

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 provided diagram illustrates the process of how the rain-shadow deserts are formed in 7 different stages.

Overall, it is evident that the whole formation process starts at sea and goes through 7 different stages and ends in land, the entire process travels through thousands of kilometres.

Firstly, the wind blows towards the mountains approaching the coast, which is the first stage of the process. Secondly, the wind then pushes itself upwards following the tall mountain, then it traps moist air which allows it to cool down. Furthermore, due to the atmosphere the cool wind now transforms into cloud.

When the clouds reach to the peak of the mountain, it starts raining. Afterwards, the rain falls cause continues dry air to flow over the mountain from the leeward side. As the final process the dry wind that came down from the mountain continues to follow and reach to inland area, where the rain-shadow deserts are formed

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the process, but the description lacks detail and precision. While you identify the sequence, the explanation of the meteorological phenomena is somewhat simplistic. For instance, stating 'due to the atmosphere the cool wind now transforms into cloud' is vague and lacks the scientific accuracy expected in an Academic Task 1 report. Furthermore, the summary of the process is a bit repetitive, and the 'overall' statement could be more analytical by highlighting the contrast between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain more clearly. To reach a higher band, ensure you describe the physical changes (e.g., condensation, precipitation) with more technical accuracy.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into a logical sequence using transition signals such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Furthermore', and 'Afterwards'. This creates a clear progression of information. However, the paragraphing is underdeveloped; the entire body of the report is contained within one paragraph, which makes it harder to follow the distinct stages of the process. While the cohesive devices are used appropriately, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical. To improve, consider grouping the stages into two distinct paragraphs—perhaps one for the windward side and one for the leeward side—to enhance the structural clarity of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'moist air', 'leeward side', and 'inland area'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices that limit the precision of your writing. For example, 'pushes itself upwards' is not the most natural way to describe air movement, and 'the rain falls cause continues dry air' contains a grammatical error that affects clarity. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise scientific terminology related to weather patterns and ensure that your word choices are consistently natural and accurate in a formal context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'how the rain-shadow deserts are formed' should be 'how rain-shadow deserts are formed', and 'the rain falls cause continues dry air' should be 'the falling rain causes continuous dry air'. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and verb forms. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of adjectives versus adverbs.

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

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