Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 illustrates how a rain-shadow desert is formed through a series of natural atmospheric processes.

Overall, the process begins with moist air moving inland desert from the sea, and ends with formation of a dry desert on the leeward side of a mountain range. The key stage involve the uplift and cooling of moist air, rainfall on one side of the mountain, and the movement of dry air towards inland areas.

Initially, moist winds blow from the sea toward the coast. When these air masses reach a mountain range, they are forced to rise along the windward side. As the air ascends, it expands and cools, causing water vapour to condense into clouds. Once sufficient condensation has occured, precipitation takes places, and rain falls heavily on the windward slope. Consequently, most of the moisture is released before the air crosses the mountain. After reaching the summit, the remaining air descends, it become warmer and considerably drier because it has already lost the majority of its moisture. This air dried an continuous moving toward leeward side and become cause of rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the diagram detailing the formation of a rain-shadow desert. You successfully highlight the initial moist air movement from the sea, the uplift and cooling over the mountain range, precipitation on the windward side, and the final dry air descent on the leeward slope. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the overall progression from moist air to a dry desert. While a few mechanical errors appear in the final sentence, all parts of the prompt are addressed well, and the information is accurately selected and reported, meeting the expectations for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The response demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. You make effective use of paragraphing, separating the introduction, the overarching summary, and the detailed chronological steps of the process. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'When', 'Once sufficient condensation has occured', and 'Consequently' are used to guide the reader smoothly through the sequential stages of the diagram. Although referencing and linking in the concluding sentence are slightly clumsy ('This air dried an continuous moving...'), the overall arrangement remains coherent and easy to follow, justifying a Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary with some flexibility and precision, incorporating topic-specific terminology such as 'moist winds', 'air masses', 'windward side', 'water vapour', 'condense', 'precipitation', and 'leeward side'. Less common items are used with a fair degree of control. However, there are a few noticeable lexical and spelling inaccuracies towards the end of the text, such as 'occured' (occurred), 'become warmer' (becoming warmer), and the awkward phrasing 'Air dried an continuous moving', which restrict the score to a Band 6.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses ('When these air masses reach a mountain range, they are forced to rise...') and participial phrases. There are several frequent error-free sentences demonstrating good control. However, grammatical accuracy slips in the final paragraph with run-on structures and tense/form errors, such as 'After reaching the summit, the remaining air descends, it become warmer' (comma splice) and 'This air dried an continuous moving toward leeward side and become cause of'. These persistent errors keep the performance at a Band 6.0 level.

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

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