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 a rain-shadow desert, which is a kind of desert.

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

The creation of rain-shadow deserts begins at the seas, after the wind reaches the coast at step 1. At stage 2 wind goes upward towards the windward side, thereafter reflecting off the mountain, where moist air rises and cools down in the later step forming clouds at the snowcapped peak of the mountain. Following rainfall at step 5, dry air continues over the mountain.

Subsequently, towards the leeward side, the dry air goes 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 thousands of kilometers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully identifies the overall process of a rain-shadow desert's formation, covering the key stages from the sea across the mountain to the inland area. The overview correctly highlights the 7-step natural process and traces the wind's journey. However, the response contains some inaccuracies in detailing specific steps; for instance, the text mentions that the wind reflects off the mountain at stage 2 and that clouds form at the snowcapped peak after rainfall, which slightly misinterprets the sequential cause-and-effect relationship shown in typical diagrams of this process (where cooling and cloud formation precede rainfall). Despite these minor misinterpretations of the visual data, all parts of the prompt are addressed, and the main features are reported, earning a Band 6.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is coherent overall, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a concluding section. The writer uses basic sequencing signals and cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'starts when', 'subsequently', and 'at the end of the 6th stage' to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is used to separate the introduction, the general overview, and the detailed stages. However, some connections feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, and referencing is occasionally vague (e.g., 'subsequent, towards the leeward side...'). Overall progression is maintained, but cohesion lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band, making Band 6.0 the most appropriate descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary for the task, successfully employing topic-specific terms such as 'rain-shadow desert', 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'moist air', and 'inland areas'. There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but word choice is occasionally imprecise or awkward, such as 'reflecting off the mountain' or 'making its way to inland areas forming a rain-shadow desert' (which results in a fragment). Spelling is generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptor, reflecting an adequate range for the task with some limitations in precision and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating participial phrases ('making its way to inland areas') and relative clauses ('which is a kind of desert'). There are several grammatical lapses, punctuation issues, and sentence boundary errors throughout the text. For example, the sentence fragment 'Making its way to inland areas forming a rain-shadow desert.' demonstrates faulty complex structures. Additionally, minor prepositional and tense inconsistencies appear, such as 'wind goes upward towards the windward side, thereafter reflecting off the mountain, where moist air rises and cools down in the later step forming clouds'. These errors require some effort from the reader to untangle but do not completely impede understanding, placing the grammar squarely at Band 5.5.

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

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