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 process diagram illustrates how rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, this linear process consists of 7 steps, starting from winds approaching the coast and ends when dry winds reach the inland areas.

At very first stage, winds reach the coastal area. Those winds are pushed upward from the sea level to the windward side of the mountains. As the winds kept on moving upwards, moist air increases and it cools which causes the formation of clouds on the windward side of the mountains.

On the top of the mountains, it start raining. As soon as the rain falls, the dry air continues over the leedward side of the mountain from top to the downward side. Down the mountains, the dry winds reach inland areas, resulting in the formation of the rain-shadow desert. The distance between the inland area, where rain-shadow desert is formed, is thousands of kilometres from the coast

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response successfully covers all the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation process diagram. You provide an overview noting the linear nature of the process from the coast to inland areas, and you sequence the main steps adequately from winds approaching the coast up to the formation of the desert. However, there are minor omissions and slight inaccuracies in detailing the scientific mechanism, such as stating that moist air increases as winds move upwards, rather than moisture condensing as air cools. Nevertheless, the key stages of moist air cooling, cloud formation, precipitation on the windward side, and dry air descending on the leeward side are all reported. The task is addressed competently, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0; balancing the minor descriptive flaws with a clear summary of the overall process, a Band 6.5 is appropriate.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

Your text displays a clear overall progression, starting with an introductory statement, moving to an overview paragraph, and then detailing the sequential steps of the diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'At very first stage', 'As the winds kept on moving upwards', and 'As soon as the rain falls' are used to guide the reader through the stages. Paragraphing is used logically to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, there are some minor cohesive faults and mechanical phrasing, such as 'At very first stage' lacking an article, and slight awkwardness in referencing. Despite these minor issues, the logical arrangement is maintained throughout, fitting the Band 6.5 profile well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating process-specific terms such as 'coastal area', 'windward side', 'moist air', 'clouds', 'leedward side' (spelled 'leeward'), and 'inland areas'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but also noticeable word choice and spelling errors, such as 'leedward' instead of 'leeward', missing articles like 'how rain-shadow desert is formed' instead of 'a rain-shadow desert', and repetitive phrasing like 'dry winds reach inland areas'. These errors do not impede communication, as the meaning remains clear, which places your lexical performance solidly at Band 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, incorporating subordinate clauses introduced by 'as', 'starting from', and 'resulting in'. There are, however, several grammatical errors throughout the response, such as article omissions ('how rain-shadow desert is formed', 'At very first stage'), subject-verb agreement issues ('it start raining'), and awkward tense consistency ('As the winds kept on moving upwards... it cools'). While these errors are noticeable and detract from accuracy, your complex structures do not impede communication, allowing the reader to easily follow the intended meaning. This is characteristic of Band 6.0 grammar.

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

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