Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

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

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 pictorial graph illustrates how a particular type of desert, known as a rain- shadow desert, is formed.

Overall, process of forming a rain- shadow deserts involves seven stages. It commences with the winds approach and ends when dry winds reach inland regions. In addition to this, it covers thousands of kilometres to reach Inland from sea and this process revolves around the mountains.

At the first stage of the process, winds approach coast above the sea surface then it is pushed upward on the sides of mountains. Once this step is complete, moist air rises and cools simultaneously towards windward side. Subsequently, clouds are formed and rainfall occurs.

Turning to the later stages of the process, dry air continues over mountains towards leeward side. Afterwards, dry winds reach inland area and results in rain- shadow desert. It has been considered as a long process as wind travels thousands of kilometers to form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation. An adequate overview is provided in the second paragraph, capturing the seven-stage sequence and the spatial context spanning thousands of kilometres from the sea to inland regions. Key features from the diagram, such as moist air cooling on the windward side, cloud formation, precipitation, and dry air descending on the leeward side towards the inland desert, are accurately reported. The information is grounded directly in the visual data without introducing extraneous facts, satisfying the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 task response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The response is logically organized with a clear overall progression, moving from an introductory overview to the initial stages and finally the later stages of the process. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction/overview from the body details. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'At the first stage', and 'Turning to the later stages' help guide the reader through the sequence. However, some cohesive links and referencing are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'In addition to this, it covers thousands of kilometres to reach Inland from sea and this process revolves around the mountains', which holds the score at a solid Band 6.5.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate lexical range suitable for an Academic Task 1 response, using appropriate process-related vocabulary such as 'process', 'stages', 'commences', 'moist air', 'precipitation', and 'leeward side'. Less common items are attempted with varying success; phrases like 'pictorial graph' are slightly unnatural (a 'diagram' or 'process diagram' would be more precise), and there are minor word choice errors such as 'winds approach' instead of 'winds approaching'. Nevertheless, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main features clearly and without impeding communication, aligning with the Band 6 descriptor criteria.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses ('Once this step is complete, moist air rises...') and participial phrases. However, several grammatical errors occur throughout the text, such as missing articles ('process of forming a rain-shadow deserts', 'reach inland area'), verb form inconsistencies ('winds approach' instead of 'winds approaching' or 'winds approach the coast'), and a pluralization error ('a rain- shadow deserts'). Punctuation and spacing issues also appear around hyphens and commas. Despite these frequent minor errors, meaning is generally clear and communication is not impeded, fitting comfortably into Band 6.0.

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

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