Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-23

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 flow diagram illustrate the process of formation of one type of desert known as Rain-Shadow desert covering the thousands of kilometers area.

Overall, the linear process consist of 7 natural stages, comence with the winds approaching the coast and ends with the dry air reach inland areas forming rain-shadow dessert near mountains.

Initially, on the windward side, the process begins with the moist-air approaching the coast from the ocean. Subsequetly, the air further pushed upward where it underwent cooling and transformed into clouds at the slope of the mountain range. In addition, these clouds causes precipitation in the form of rain on the top of the mountain.

Conversely, on the leeward side, the dry air continues to descend through the sloop of peak. These dry winds futher reached to the inland areas contributing in the formation of rain-shadow dessert.

To sum up, the whole mechanism proves that the main reason for the development of most of the deserts found near the mountain summit areas are the winds lacking moisture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features of the rain-shadow desert formation diagram. The response includes a clear overview stating that the process consists of seven natural stages spanning thousands of kilometres. Key steps—such as moist air approaching the coast, rising and cooling to form clouds, precipitation occurring on the windward side, and dry air descending on the leeward side to form a desert—are accurately reported. While some minor details are omitted, the overall progression is well-covered and fully grounded in the provided visual data, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The text is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs divided by geographical features (windward versus leeward sides), and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices such as 'Overall', 'Initially', 'Subsequentely', and 'Conversely' are employed to guide the reader through the stages of the diagram. However, paragraphing is slightly compact, and a few cohesive transitions feel somewhat mechanical. Despite these minor issues, there is a clear logical progression throughout the response, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully utilizing terms like 'precipitation', 'descend', 'moisture', and 'linear process'. However, there are notable spelling errors ('illustrate' instead of 'illustrates', 'comence' instead of 'commence', 'Subsequetly', 'dessert' used instead of 'desert' multiple times, 'sloop' instead of 'slope', 'futher' instead of 'further'). These errors prevent the score from reaching higher bands, but because communication is never impeded and the register remains academic, a Band 6.0 is appropriate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

A mix of simple and complex sentence forms is used throughout the response (e.g., 'the air further pushed upward where it underwent cooling...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors present, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The flow diagram illustrate', 'these clouds causes') and missing auxiliary verbs ('the air further pushed upward'). While these errors occur regularly, they do not obscure the meaning of the text. The command of grammar demonstrates the characteristics of Band 6.0.

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

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