Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-12

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 represents the step by step formation of rain-shadow desert, which is a kind of desert.

Overall, it is 7-step natural process of that starts when wind approaches the coast, and then travels accross the mountain, for thousands of kilometers. Finally, making its way to inland areas forming a rain-shadow desert.

The making of rain-shadow deserts begins from seas, after the wind reasches the coast at the step 1. At stage 2 wind goes upward towards the windward side, thereafter reflecting with the mountain, where moist air rises and cools down in the later step forming clouds at the snowcapped peak of the mountain. Following rain fall, dry air countinues over mountain.

Subsequently, towards the leeward side, the dry air go in the direction of land, at the end of the 6th stage the dry wind reaches the inland areas resulting in a rain-shadow desert, meanwhile covering the distance of thousand of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully covers all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process depicted in the diagram. The overview captures the overall progression well, noting that it is a multi-step natural process starting from the coast, crossing a mountain, and reaching inland areas. Key stages such as the wind reaching the coast, the moist air rising and cooling on the windward side, cloud formation, precipitation, and the subsequent dry air moving toward the leeward side are all reported. However, some details are slightly imprecise or under-developed, placing the response firmly at a Band 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is organized into four distinct paragraphs, creating a coherent overall arrangement. The student attempts to sequence the steps logically from the beginning of the process to the final inland outcome. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Finally', 'At stage 2', 'thereafter', and 'Subsequently' are used to guide the reader through the stages. However, referencing and transitions are at times mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'reflecting with the mountain' and 'the dry air go in the direction of land', which detracts from the flow and caps the coherence score at Band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for describing a simple geographical process, featuring terms like 'moist air', 'snowcapped peak', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. However, there are notable word choice and collocation issues throughout the text, including 'step by step formation of rain-shadow desert' (missing article), 'natural process of that starts', and 'countinues over mountain'. Furthermore, spelling errors such as 'reasches' and 'countinues' indicate a lack of precision. The range is sufficient for the task, but errors in word formation and collocation place this criterion at Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over clause structures through participial phrases ('forming a rain-shadow desert', 'resulting in a rain-shadow desert, meanwhile covering...'). Nevertheless, there are frequent grammatical errors and punctuation lapses, such as missing articles ('the step by step formation of rain-shadow desert'), subject-verb agreement issues ('the dry air go'), and awkward phrasing ('reflecting with the mountain'). While these errors do not severely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from achieving a higher band.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.