Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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 displays the formation of one type of desert, called rain-shadow desert in several main steps.

Overall, the formation of the desert starts with wind approaching the coast and after travelling thousands of kilometers it reaches the peak and after some time it goes to inland area.

At first, winds approaches the coast of a mountain from the sea. Due to inclined structure of the mountain winds are pushed upwards. When the winds are travelling in inclined position due to the moisture and temperature fall they cool down and form clouds. In the next step, these clouds move in windward side where they reach at the peak of the mountain.

After that, the temperature decreases and rain falls. Now, the dry air continues to travel thousands of kilometers over the mountain in leeward side, approaching the lowest level again. At last, when dry winds reach the inland areas, it form rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You cover the main sequence from winds approaching the coast to dry winds reaching inland, and you identify the key outcome: the rain-shadow desert. The overview also recognises the broad movement across the mountains. However, some details are less fully or accurately explained. The diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, clouds forming above the windward side, and rain falling there before dry air crosses the mountain to the leeward side. Your account adds that the clouds “move” to the peak and that temperature decreases again before rain falls, which makes the process less precise. Clarify the windward/leeward contrast and explain that the inland area is dry because moisture has been lost on the windward side.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction and overview are followed by the earlier and later stages of the process. Sequencing phrases such as “At first,” “In the next step,” “After that,” and “At last” help the reader follow the stages, and the progression is generally logical. To make the organisation more controlled, avoid repeating the same sequence markers and group related stages more tightly—for example, describe rising moist air, cooling, cloud formation and rainfall together, then move to the dry air crossing the mountain. Some references are not fully clear: “these clouds move in windward side” does not clearly explain their position or relation to the peak. More precise linking and referencing would make the cohesion less mechanical.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of process vocabulary, including “approaching,” “pushed upwards,” “moisture,” “leeward side,” and “rain-shadow desert.” These terms help convey the stages and show some awareness of the diagram’s geographical language. There are, however, several imprecise or awkward choices that reduce naturalness: “inclined structure” is not a clear description of the mountain’s effect, and “travelling in inclined position” is an unnatural way to describe rising air. “It goes to inland area” is also vague. Aim for precise process collocations such as air rising up the mountain slope, moisture condensing into clouds, and dry air descending on the leeward side. Check word forms as well, as in “it form rain-shadow desert.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including cause-and-effect clauses with “Due to” and “When,” and most of the process remains understandable. Some grammatical errors persist, particularly with subject–verb agreement and articles: “winds approaches” should be “winds approach,” while “it form rain-shadow desert” needs “it forms a rain-shadow desert.” There are also awkward sentence constructions, such as “When the winds are travelling in inclined position due to the moisture and temperature fall they cool down,” where the relationships between clauses are difficult to follow. Use clearer clause boundaries and check singular/plural agreement and article use. More consistently accurate complex sentences would strengthen the description.

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