Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-05

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 depicts the formation of rain-shadow desert which is consist of seven important steps.

Overall, the process starts when the wind approches coast to forming rain which then becomes a dry wind that reaches inland, creating a rain-shadow desert.

First, the wind from the sea approaches the coast where the slope of the mountain pushes the air upward. Next, the air will now reach the windward side of the valley where it will become moist and cool which later forming a cloud that then will result to a rain fall.

Subsequently, the air now will move to the other side of the mountain and becomes a dry air. Finally, the air gradually moves down to the leeward side which turn it into a dry wind that will eventually reaches inland areas creating now a rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the visual diagram, outlining the seven key stages of how a rain-shadow desert is formed. An overview is successfully presented in the second paragraph, summarising the overall progression from moist coastal winds to dry inland conditions. However, the length requirement is not met, as the response contains only 137 words, falling short of the 150-word minimum. While the main features are reported, some details are slightly under-developed, preventing a higher score. To reach the next level, the student should expand further on the mechanisms of each stage and ensure the minimum word count is strictly satisfied.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing that separates the introduction, overview, and body stages. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Next', 'Subsequently', and 'Finally' are used to signal the chronological sequence of the process. However, the referencing and flow are occasionally mechanical, and the use of cohesive tools could be more varied and flexible. To move to a higher band, the student should integrate transitions more smoothly across sentences and paragraphs to enhance the natural progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully incorporating specific terms from the diagram such as 'windward side', 'leeward side', 'moist and cool', and 'inland areas'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though these are accompanied by occasional word choice and form inaccuracies, such as 'is consist of' instead of 'consists of' and 'rain fall' instead of 'rainfall'. These minor errors do not impede communication. To achieve a higher score, the student needs to demonstrate greater precision in word choice and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some control over structure. However, there are noticeable grammatical errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues like 'the wind approches coast to forming rain', missing articles, and awkward prepositional usage. While these errors rarely impede overall communication, they persist across multiple sentences. To improve, the student needs to reduce the frequency of grammatical mistakes and enhance control over complex sentence structures and verb patterns.

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

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