Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 illustrates the stages that lead to the development of rain-shadow deserts.

Overall, the formation of the desert occurs in seven stages over thousands of kilometers from sea, mountains and inlands. While, clouds are formed on Windward side of the mountains, dry wind travelled to the Leeward side and sinked into the inlands.

Initially, the wind from the sea that reached the coast is forced up to the Windward side of the mountains. As the air rose, it became moist and cooled down. Subsequently, the moist air turned into clouds that later fell as rain before passing over the tip of the mountains.

Once it has rained, the dry air left behind passes over the top of the mountains and descends downward to the Leeward side. After covering thousands of kilometers, the dry air along with the debris from the mountains settles in the inland areas that are gradually into rain-shadow deserts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The student successfully covers all the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation process, from the winds approaching the coast to the creation of the desert inland. An effective overview is provided, highlighting the seven-stage sequence and the spatial progression across thousands of kilometers. Key features such as the windward side, cloud formation, precipitation, and the leeward side descent are accurately reported. The information is fully grounded in the visual data without significant omissions or inventions, fulfilling the requirements for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response is logically organized with a clear introduction, an overview paragraph, and two body paragraphs detailing the stages. Cohesive devices such as 'Initially', 'Once it has rained', and 'After covering' are used to guide the reader through the process. Paragraphing is logical and appropriate. However, referencing and transitions occasionally feel slightly mechanical, preventing a higher score. Overall, the logical progression is clear and maintained throughout.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range suited to a process diagram task, employing terms like 'precipitation', 'descends', 'debris', and 'inland areas'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of academic style, such as 'rain-shadow deserts' and 'subsequently'. There are minor collocation or word choice inaccuracies, such as 'are gradually into rain-shadow deserts', but these do not impede communication, placing the response solidly in the Band 6.0 to 6.5 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The text contains a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as subordinate clauses ('While, clouds are formed on Windward side...'). There are some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, including 'dry wind travelled to the Leeward side and sinked' (incorrect past tense form 'sinked' instead of 'sank') and a missing article before 'Windward side'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, and despite these errors, communication is rarely impeded, demonstrating control typical of a Band 6.0 level.

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

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