Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 provided diagram depicts the formation of rain-shadow desert.

Overall, it includes multiple steps in the formation of rain-shadow desert. At first step, winds from sea approach coastal areas which is cold. Cold winds move upwards across mountain, which causes the clouds to form as the temperature drops, and results in rain falls following the increase in temperature and consequently, results in the formation of rain shadow desert.

The process commences with the winds from sea approaching coast and then pushed upwards across mountain. As the air rises across the windward side, it becomes moist as the temperature decreases, which results in the formation of clouds. The clouds are formed and reach the top of mountain and rain falls down.

Moving to other side, after rain falls, the moist air becomes dry as it reaches leeward side. Temperature of air rises and create dry air. Subsequently, the dry winds reach inland areas moving from top to bottom of mountain. It results in the formation of 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 identify the windward and leeward sides. The overview also recognises that the stages lead to a rain-shadow desert. However, some explanations are unclear or conflict with the diagram: the coast is not described as cold, and rain does not follow an increase in temperature. The diagram shows moist air rising and cooling, clouds forming, and rain falling on the windward side; only after crossing the mountain does the air become dry. Your account includes these key stages, but the overview’s inaccurate causal explanation and the limited detail about the desert’s inland location make some parts less fully addressed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction and overview are followed by two paragraphs describing the process, with the transition “Moving to other side” signalling the change to the leeward side. The stages are generally presented in the correct order. However, progression is weakened by repetition: the formation of clouds and rainfall is described in both the overview and the next paragraph, while “results in” and “formation” recur. Some links are also awkward or unclear, particularly “rain falls following the increase in temperature,” which makes the sequence difficult to follow. Use one concise overview, then describe each stage once, with clear references such as “after crossing the mountain” to connect the two sides.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of process vocabulary, including “approaching,” “windward side,” “leeward side,” “moist,” and “inland areas.” These terms help communicate the diagram’s stages, and the meaning is generally clear. There is also some flexibility in describing movement and change, such as “rises” and “becomes dry.” However, several combinations are imprecise or repetitive: “coastal areas which is cold,” “rain falls down,” and repeated use of “formation” are not natural choices for this process description. At this level, the range is adequate and includes some less common terms, but more accurate collocations and varied verbs would make the account more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses with “which” and time links such as “after rain falls.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “coastal areas which is cold” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “then pushed upwards” lacks a clear auxiliary or passive subject. In “Temperature of air rises and create dry air,” the article and verb form need correction; “the temperature rises and creates dry air” would be clearer. There are also article and number issues in phrases such as “across mountain” and “rain-shadow desert.” More consistent control of articles, agreement, and passive forms would improve accuracy while retaining your complex sentences.

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