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 diagram demonstrates the process of the type of desert, called rain-shadow desert, is formed. Overall, the formation process consists of seven stages, starting with winds approaching the coast and ending with dry wind reaching the inland area.

In the initial stage, the wind starts approaching the coast from the sea. As a result, the wind is driven upward as it hits the mountains. Due to this, the humid air ascends and cools down. Consequently, clouds form on the windward side and rain falls. Meanwhile, the remaining dry air flows over the mountains. This circulation pattern eventually causes the dry winds to arrive at inland areas on the leeward side, creating an arid environment. The leeward side receives significantly less precipitation. In conclusion, a rain-shadow desert forms because all the moisture was stripped away by rainfall on the windward side, leaving the inland regions extremely dry.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The student successfully identifies the main features and overall process of a rain-shadow desert formation, covering the progression from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas. An overview is successfully provided in the second sentence, outlining the seven stages. Key geographical features such as the sea, coast, windward and leeward sides of the mountains, and the inland rain-shadow desert are correctly incorporated. However, a minor deduction is applied under Task Achievement because the word count is 146 words, which falls slightly short of the mandatory 150-word minimum. Despite this length penalty, the content itself adequately addresses all parts of the task prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is coherent and presents a clear overall progression from the initial stage to the final conclusion. Information is logically sequenced following the step-by-step diagram. Cohesive devices such as 'In the initial stage', 'As a result', 'Due to this', 'Consequently', and 'Meanwhile' are used to connect ideas effectively, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is appropriately handled, splitting the introduction/overview from the main body process description. Referencing throughout the text is clear, ensuring the reader can easily follow the geographical and meteorological sequence depicted in the prompt.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary suitable for an academic process description. Less common lexical items related to meteorology and geography are attempted, such as 'humid air', 'ascends', 'circulation pattern', 'arid environment', and 'precipitation'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the meaning clearly, there is a minor grammatical slip in the opening sentence ('process of the type of desert... is formed'), and word choices remain somewhat standard rather than sophisticated. Spelling is accurate throughout, and errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses, participial phrases, and conditional-style consequence clauses (e.g., 'As a result, the wind is driven upward as it hits the mountains', 'leaving the inland regions extremely dry'). There is a grammatical error in the very first sentence ('the process of the type of desert, called rain-shadow desert, is formed'), which contains awkward phrasing and a missing article. Otherwise, the majority of the sentences are well-controlled and grammatically sound, demonstrating a good grasp of tense and clause connection.

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