Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-01

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 depicts the formation of one type of desert, known as a rain shadow desert in the mountains.

Overall, the process consists of seven stages, starting with winds approaching coast and ending with the formation of a rain-shadow desert on the leeward side of a mountain. Rainfall occurs on the windwaed side, while dry air moves towards the inland areas.

Initially, the formation fo rain-shadow deserts beginning with winds approaching coast. After that, winds pushed in upwards, then moist air rises and cools down. Next, clouds formed occurs on the windward side of a mountain.

Furthermore, rainfalls additionally in the windward side. After that, dry air continuesly moves over mountain on the leeward side and the dry winds reach in inland areas on the inland. The formation of rain-shadow is clearly completed in mountains in the process of thousands of kilometres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main stages of rain-shadow desert formation, supported by a clear overview that captures the progression from the coast to the inland leeward side. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response falls short of the 150-word minimum (containing 142 words). Furthermore, while the key features are identified, some descriptions are slightly repetitive or under-developed, such as the treatment of precipitation and wind patterns across the mountain. To reach a higher band, the response would need to safely exceed the word count threshold and provide a more fully developed account of the climatic shifts occurring across the scale of thousands of kilometres.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response exhibits a coherent overall arrangement with a logical progression from the initial coastal stages through to the final inland desert formation. Paragraphing is utilised to structure the introduction, overview, and body details. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty, relying heavily on basic sequential transitions like 'After that' and 'Next'. Referencing and logical flow occasionally falter, such as abrupt transitions between sentences describing clouds and rainfall. To achieve a higher standard of cohesion, a wider variety of cohesive devices should be employed more flexibly, and referencing within and across sentences needs to be smoother to prevent the structure from feeling disjointed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary is deployed for the task, successfully capturing terminology such as 'leeward side', 'windward side', and 'rain-shadow desert'. Less common lexical items are attempted, though with some inaccuracy and awkward word formation, such as 'windwaed' instead of 'windward', 'formation fo' instead of 'formation of', and 'continuesly' instead of 'continually'. Spelling errors and minor word-choice slips occur throughout the text, though they do not seriously impede overall communication. To improve this criterion, the writer must ensure correct word forms and spelling, while expanding the range of precise vocabulary used to describe geographical and meteorological processes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a limited range of structures, featuring a mix of simple sentences and occasional attempts at complex forms. However, these attempts are frequently faulty, leading to noticeable grammatical errors such as 'winds pushed in upwards' (passive voice misuse), 'clouds formed occurs' (verb tense and clause structure confusion), and prepositions in awkward patterns like 'reach in inland areas on the inland'. Punctuation and subject-verb agreement errors persist. While communication is not entirely blocked, frequent errors in basic and attempted complex structures restrict the writing to a lower band. Greater accuracy and a wider variety of error-free complex sentence patterns are required for improvement.

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