Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-08

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 cycle for the formation of a special type of desert named a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the formation of a rain-shadow desert consists of seven stages. The process begins with movement of winds from the sea towards the coast and ends at the formation of a desert.

In the initial stage, winds move from sea to coast. Additionally, the hot winds encounter the mountain in front of it and are driven in an upwards direction. Moreover, the moist hot air rises and cools down. Next, at the windward side, the wind creates the establishment of clouds. Then, these clouds then pave the way for the rain to fall on the top of the mountain.

Furthermore, the dry moist air continues to move from the top of the mountain to the other side of the mountain. On the other side, dry moist air reaches the leeward side, which is opposite to the windward side. Finally, from this side, winds reach the inland areas, which are thousands of kilometers from the coast. On reaching the inland areas, winds then create the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all stages of the process clearly and accurately. You have successfully identified the main features, such as the movement of air, the cooling process, and the resulting rain-shadow effect. The overview is concise and provides a good summary of the seven stages. To reach a higher band, ensure that you avoid minor inaccuracies in terminology; for instance, you describe the air as 'dry moist air,' which is a contradiction. Focusing on precise scientific descriptions of the air's state at each stage would improve the clarity and quality of your report.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, overview, and body paragraphs that follow the chronological order of the process. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage,' 'Additionally,' 'Moreover,' and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases further and ensure that the connection between sentences is more fluid rather than relying on a list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'windward side,' 'leeward side,' and 'inland areas' correctly. However, there are some instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'dry moist air,' which is logically inconsistent. Additionally, some phrasing is slightly repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'winds' and 'mountain.' To achieve a higher score, aim to use more sophisticated synonyms and ensure that your collocations are accurate. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, but lacks the flexibility and precision required for the highest bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally clear and communication is not impeded, there are some minor errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'encounter the mountain in front of it' (which is redundant) and 'the wind creates the establishment of clouds' (which is slightly unnatural). You have good control over basic sentence construction, but the range of complex structures is somewhat limited. To improve, try to incorporate more varied sentence patterns and ensure that your subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are consistently accurate.

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

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