Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-20

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 in the image illustrates the formation of rain-shadow deserts. This picture teaches that how the rain is formed over mountains.

Overall, the floating wind on the surface of sea rose towards the mountain peak and becomes moist and cool in the mean time, which leads to formation of clouds and then these clouds start raining. After rain, the air becomes dry and it reaches to inland areas.

This process starts when winds approach to the coastal area of sea, then this breeze is pushed upwards and when it is going to higher altitude, it become moist and cool which ultimately converts into clouds. These clouds are then responsible for raining.

Once the rain stops, the air becomes dry and starts going downward from the hill. At last, it reaches to inland area. This process may look very simple and brief, but in reality, this process is extended over thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, moving from winds approaching the coast to dry air reaching inland areas. However, there are notable limitations in task fulfillment. The overview provided in the second paragraph is somewhat informal and simplistic ('This picture teaches that how the rain is formed'). Furthermore, key geographical labels from the diagram such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', and the distinction between the sea, coast, and mountains are either omitted or generalized. While the general sequence is outlined, the response lacks the precision and depth expected for a higher band. It addresses the task adequately to achieve a band 6.0, as the main features are identified, but development and reporting of specific comparative features are limited.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is arranged into four paragraphs, showing a logical attempt at structuring an introduction, an overview, and body paragraphs detailing the stages. Progression is generally clear, moving chronologically through the process steps. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical and repetitive, relying heavily on basic transitional words like 'then', 'once', and 'at last'. Paragraphing is used, but the overall organization could be more smoothly integrated. Referencing is occasionally ambiguous, such as in the opening sentences where the relationship between the sentences is disjointed. Overall, the coherence is adequate for a band 6.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic concepts such as 'moist', 'cool', 'clouds', and 'dry air'. However, there are noticeable lexical limitations and unnatural collocations, such as 'floating wind', 'starts going downward from the hill', and the grammatical error 'responsible for raining' instead of 'causing precipitation'. Less common lexical items are attempted but lack precision. Spelling is generally accurate, but word choice errors and a restricted range prevent the response from reaching a higher band. This performance aligns with band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and conditional structures (e.g., 'when it is going to higher altitude, it become moist and cool'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tense consistency, subject-verb agreement ('wind... rose', 'it become'), and missing articles ('coastal area of sea', 'reaches to inland area'). Prepositional usage is also occasionally flawed ('approach to', 'reaches to'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they occur regularly enough to restrict the score to a band 5.5.

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

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