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 illustration displays the process of how a rain-shadow desert is formed.

Overall, the process consists of 7 linear steps. It begins when the winds approaching the coast are pushed up along the winward side of the mountain. This results in formation of clouds which is followed by rain. The process ends when dry winds reach inland areas.

The process begins when the winds approach the coast on the winward side of the mountain. These winds are then pushed upwards. As the moist air rises it cool down, this results in the formation of clouds. These clouds then bring rainfall on the windward side.

While the dry air continues to move over the mountain top and reaches the leeward side. The dry air then moves down the mountain and reaches the inland areas. The inland areas are situated at the base of the mountain. This inland area is called the rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by outlining the main features of how a rain-shadow desert is formed. An overview is provided, noting the linear steps involved in the process. However, some aspects are under-developed or lack extension. For instance, the transition from moisture cooling to cloud formation and rainfall is treated rather briefly, and the spatial relationship indicated by the 'thousands of kilometres' scale is omitted. While the key stages from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland areas are reported, a more fully developed account of the atmospheric changes at each stage would be needed to reach a higher level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from the initial winds approaching the coast to the final rain-shadow desert. Paragraphing is utilised to separate the introduction, overview, and body details. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty. For example, the sentence starting with 'While the dry air continues to move...' in the final paragraph creates a dangling dependent clause without a completed main clause, which disrupts the flow and referencing between ideas. Clearer signposting and smoother transitional links between the windward and leeward descriptions would improve the overall organizational control.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

An adequate range of vocabulary is deployed for the task, allowing the student to successfully describe the physical and geographical features of the diagram, such as 'winds', 'moist air', 'clouds', and 'leeward side'. Less common items and process-specific terms are attempted, though with some inaccuracy and spelling errors, such as 'winward' instead of 'windward' and 'cool down' instead of 'cools down'. Word choice is generally appropriate enough for the message to be communicated clearly, but occasional slips prevent the resource from appearing more flexible and precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at relative clauses and participial phrases, such as 'winds approaching the coast are pushed up' and 'As the moist air rises it cool down'. There are some errors in grammar, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'it cool down' and punctuation oversights. Complex structures sometimes contain faulty mechanics, as seen in the sentence fragment introduced by 'While'. Nonetheless, these errors are relatively infrequent and rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow the sequence without difficulty.

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