Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16

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 illustrateshow a rain shadown desert is formed as moist air passes over a mountain.

Overall, the process consists of sevcen main stages. It begins with winds carrying moist air approach coastand ends when dry winds reach the inland areas, creating rain-shadown desert on the leewarsnside of the moutain.

Initially, wind from coast moves the mountain and are pused upwards along its windward side. As the moist air rises, it becomes cooler. This cooling causes clouds to form. When the clouds sufficently dense, rain fall on the windward side of mountain. As a result, much of the moisture is removed from the air before its crosses the mountain.

After the rainfall , the remaining air continues over the mountain towards the leeward side. At this stage, the air is dry and gradually moves down the other side. Finally, dry winds reach the inland areas. Because there is very little moisture left in the air, these areas recieve littlr rainfall and consequently become rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation depicted in the diagram. An effective overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the overall sequence from coastal winds to the creation of the desert on the leeward side of the mountain. Key features—such as winds being pushed upwards, cooling moist air, cloud formation, precipitation on the windward side, and dry air descending on the leeward side—are all accurately reported and logically sequenced. While some minor descriptive details could be extended further, the response fully satisfies the requirements for an Academic Task 1 summary. Band score: 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The text is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction and overview to the detailed steps of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction/overview from the body details. Cohesive devices are employed reasonably well (e.g., 'Overall', 'Initially', 'As a result', 'After the rainfall', 'Finally'), although there are some minor mechanical errors in phrasing like 'illustrateshow' and 'sevcen' which slightly detract from smooth cohesion. Nevertheless, the logical flow from coast to inland is maintained throughout. Band score: 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for describing a scientific process, using terms like 'moist air', 'precipitation', 'leeward side', 'windward side', and 'rain-shadow desert'. However, there are several noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'shadown' instead of 'shadow', 'sevcen' instead of 'seven', 'approach coastand' instead of 'approach the coast', 'pused' instead of 'pushed', and 'sufficently' instead of 'sufficiently'. These errors indicate attempts at less common vocabulary with occasional inaccuracy, though they do not impede overall communication. Band score: 6.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using relative and adverbial clauses effectively (e.g., 'As the moist air rises, it becomes cooler' and 'Because there is very little moisture left in the air...'). There are, however, several grammatical and typographical errors throughout the text, including missing articles ('passes over a mountain', 'approach coast'), incorrect verb forms ('rain fall' instead of 'rain falls', 'recieve littlr'), and preposition issues ('moves the mountain' instead of 'moves toward the mountain'). While these errors are noticeable, a sufficient number of error-free sentences exist, and meaning is generally clear. Band score: 6.0.

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