Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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)

There is a complete cycle diagram to illustrate why a desert is known as a rain shadow desert, and why it receive a small portion of moist air? The range of the mountain is consisted of thousands of kilometers, and the sea is located on the left side, and the inland is located on the right side of the mountain.

Rain-shadow deserts are those dry regions which received little precipitation because the moist air is mostly blocked by the high peak mountains.

Wind is performing a specific action for the formation of clouds, such as in the first step, wind approaches the sea and pushes it upwards, and then moist air rises and cools its droplets, and through these steps, clouds are formed, and then heavy rain falls on the peak of the mountain, and then a small portion of dry air continues onwards over the mountains leeward side, and then at the end approaches the inland area which is known as Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main features of the diagram, identifying the key stages of the rain-shadow effect. However, the overview is somewhat weak; it is presented as a question rather than a summary of the process. While the student identifies the sea, mountain, and inland areas, the description of the process is slightly repetitive and lacks a clear, cohesive summary of the overall mechanism. To improve, ensure the overview clearly synthesizes the main trend or process without posing questions to the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into three paragraphs, which is appropriate. However, the flow between sentences is somewhat mechanical, relying heavily on 'and then' to link ideas. This creates a repetitive structure that hinders the natural progression of the explanation. While the logical sequence of the process is clear, the use of cohesive devices is limited and somewhat simplistic. Improving the variety of linking words and avoiding the overuse of 'and' would significantly enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'precipitation', 'moist air', and 'leeward side' used correctly. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'wind approaches the sea and pushes it upwards' (wind does not push the sea) and 'the range of the mountain is consisted of'. These errors indicate a need for more precise control over scientific terminology and verb-preposition combinations. Expanding the range of vocabulary to describe movement and atmospheric conditions would help achieve a higher score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. For instance, 'is consisted of' is incorrect (should be 'consists of'), and 'received little precipitation' should be 'receives' to maintain tense consistency. Additionally, the phrasing 'why it receive a small portion' contains a subject-verb agreement error. While the meaning remains clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and tense usage limit the score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct passive voice construction would be beneficial.

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

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