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)

The figure illustrates the formation process of a rain-shadow desert.

Overall, the wind flowing on the sea-level dragged upward and causes rain fall and the dry winds produced the rain-shadow desert when it reached inland areas travelling a long distance from the coast.

The whole process begun at the windward side of the mountains when the wind flowing on the sea-surface reached the coastal area and the wind was forced upwards which cooled down the moist air and formed clouds. The clouds caused the rainfall over the mountains which made the air less humid.

On the other hand, at the leeward side of the mountains, the dry air continued to flow over mountain and it kept going downwards following the surface of the mountains. Finally, the dry winds reached inland areas producing rain-shadow desert. In the whole process the winds had to travel thousands of kilometres of distance from coastal area to the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully identifies the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process. You have clearly distinguished between the windward and leeward sides of the mountain, which is essential for this task. The overview provides a concise summary of the process, covering the transition from moist air to dry, inland winds. However, the description of the process could be more precise; for instance, the mention of 'thousands of kilometres' is not supported by the provided diagram, which is a minor inaccuracy in reporting the data. Overall, the task is addressed well, and the key stages are logically presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into an introduction, an overview, and two body paragraphs. The progression of ideas is clear, moving from the initial wind movement to the final formation of the desert. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'Finally' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally slightly mechanical. To reach a higher band, ensure that referencing is tighter; for example, 'the wind' is repeated frequently, and using pronouns or synonyms would improve the natural flow of the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'windward', 'leeward', 'moist air', and 'coastal area' correctly. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the process, it lacks the sophistication or variety that would characterize a higher band. There are some repetitive word choices, such as 'wind' and 'mountains', which appear multiple times in close proximity. Expanding your range to include more precise verbs or descriptive adjectives related to meteorological processes would enhance the quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors. For example, 'The whole process begun' should be 'began' (past tense), and 'wind flowing on the sea-level dragged upward' is slightly awkward phrasing. Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and verb agreement, such as 'causes rain fall' instead of 'causes rainfall'. Despite these errors, the communication of the process remains clear, and the errors do not significantly impede the reader's understanding.

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

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