Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15

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 the sea winds.

Overall, this is a linear process, consisting of seven stages. The process begins when the winds from the sea approach coast and ends when the dry winds reach inland areas.

Initially, the winds flow from the sea towards the coast. At the coast, there is a range of the mountains which cover thousands of kilometer land area, pushed the winds in the upward direction. As the moist air rises through the windward side, it gets cool and the mositure of the winds form clouds.

At the next stage, rain falls on the mountains; however, the dry winds continuously flow over the mountain. The dry winds flow through the leeward side of the mountain. At the final stage, the dry winds reach at the inland areas, where the rain-shadow desert is formed.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, accurately capturing the sequence from sea winds approaching the coast to the creation of the desert inland. Key geographical features such as the windward side, mountains, leeward side, and inland areas are correctly integrated. However, the response has a length deficiency, containing only 144 words, which falls short of the mandatory 150-word minimum. This minor under-length penalty prevents the task achievement score from reaching a higher band, despite the accurate and well-selected representation of the visual data.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical arrangement of information. The introduction successfully outlines the process as a seven-stage linear sequence. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the initial stages, and the final stages of the formation. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'At the next stage', and 'At the final stage' are employed to guide the reader through the sequence. However, referencing is occasionally repetitive or slightly mechanical, keeping the coherence at a solid band 6.5 level, which rounds down to 6.0 based on standard half-band practices or fits comfortably within band 6 descriptors for adequate organizational structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a geographical process, including terms like 'linear process', 'moisture', 'windward side', and 'leeward side'. There are some awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'approach coast' (missing an article), 'thousands of kilometer land area' (ungrammatical phrasing), and 'mositure' (spelling error). While the writer attempts less common lexical items related to the diagram, these inaccuracies slightly impede precise communication. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient for the task but exhibits noticeable errors in word formation and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordinate clauses such as 'As the moist air rises through the windward side...'. However, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('approach coast'), incorrect verb forms ('pushed the winds' instead of 'pushing'), and preposition errors ('reach at the inland areas'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and the errors do not severely impede overall comprehension, though they occur frequently enough to prevent the writing from achieving a higher band score.

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